You either love to network or you hate it.  You are either effective at it or you aren’t. No matter where you sit / stand on these two continuum, there are some things you should never do when networking.  Dan Woog on Monster has done a great job of describing: Thirteen Networking Mistakes.  Read it!

I took some time to think about where and how I made some of the more important relationships in my life and how they enhanced my own capacity for networking. Assuming that you don’t commit the above listed 13 sins, I am going to suggest some of the more unconventional approaches to enhance your success at networking.  These 5 ideas are meant to expand your horizons and opportunities for the joy of it – not to get something out of it.

1.  Join a Book or Movie Club

It could be women’s issues, leadership books, spiritual journeys – whatever works for you.  Over the years, I have belonged to quite a few book clubs and the friends that I have made have been so significant both personally and professionally. These women (it so happens that they were always women) gave me the best advice.  I would never have gone out on my own back in 1990 if it weren’t for one particular group. They have been my “mini” mastermind group.

2.  Look up an old school friend or professor

I tend to keep FaceBook very private, but I stumbled upon a few friends and a wonderful old prof from grad school who while semi retire was teaching here in Switzerland.  Reconnecting with him was an introduction to some other new networks but more importantly, it was a wonderful way to catch up on old times.

3.  Get involved in your kids school programs

I never thought that I would be a PTA “kind of gal” and actually I am not.  Probably the most unexpected but most versatile relationships that I have been able to make over the past few years has been because I now have children in my life.  Maybe most of you already knew this, but it has been a revelation to me.  Arranging activities or sleep overs has been a unique opportunity to get to know some very interesting parents whom I would not otherwise have come across.

4. Volunteer

Now I know that you have probably heard this one before.  Offer your services to gain valuable experience.  So this idea is not unusual but the intention is different. Expand your perspective.  In my 20′s, I visited incarcerated women in prison with the Elizabeth Fry, answered telephones at a Distress Centre, and was a Big Sister.  These experiences set the stage to help me to learn to be ready to sit on not-for-profit boards in my 30′s. While the actual connections themselves no longer are a part of my network, my current extended network would not have been possible without these early activities.

5. Go Back to School

Yes, you could take a cooking class, learn a new language or better still actually sign up for something academic and pursue your studies.  However, I was in fact thinking of something completely different. Teach!  Take a subject matter of interest – not necessarily something where you are an expert and teach a class or course or lunch and learn.  As the instructor, others will want to connect with you.

Networking is more than meeting key people that can help you get what you want. It is more than expanding relationships.  It is about giving back, paying it forward and being socially responsible.  Hey, that’s my take on it.

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