6 Networking And Outreaching Strategies For New Normal Phase.

9 min readJul 8, 2020

It’s the midst of 2020, where for quite a while the nation has experienced and has been experiencing an array of uncertainties though trying best to adapt and mend in well.

WELCOME TO THE NEW NORMAL!

Where the subtle path of strengthening the economy for vital outcomes with re-designing of several industries to recreating more purpose-driven communities and social opportunities has been impacting us to enlighten the mode of positivism within our lives.

Amid all these happenings, the relevant need for ‘NETWORKING’ becomes crucial to charge the dynamics of different economies and to rise opportunities above the level.

WANT TO LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORKING SKILLS?

The nation as a whole is experiencing its transitional phase resulting in the restructuring of different industries with a on hand effort to boost the economy has led to a decline/fall in almost every job sector along with an increase in rates of layoffs. So since ever the importance of ‘Networking’ has become a way in opening and providing another chance to engage with different industry people brushing off their talents and skills also to understand the new changing ways of demand and supply within the professional world.

To understand and adopt the trending ways of networking opportunities, you must have and face the real intent behind outreaching people within your field expertise which you want to upskill yourself with.

So what’s your real intent for outreaching people?

Getting and making up a clear intent about how and why you want to build professional networks,

Is it to gain knowledge or upgrade your skillset?
Is it for getting your next, a much better opportunity?
Is it for meeting and getting to know various people within the same field or group of interest?

Well! Expectation decides the future goal.

The key to outreach and targeting the right people to initiate the communication all is detailed by the desired ‘expectation’ you have in your mind that underlines your purpose for staying present and active with networking.

NETWORKING AND ITS CONCEPTUAL BREAKDOWN

(I’D RATHER SAY A SNEAK PEAK INTO PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE).

A pretty known reality is when we get in touch with one another through various mediums and it’s no surprise that we are better at it since our childhood where we used to nourish our need to feel connect and reaching out to people to sustain that feeling.

So it’s not a new concept for us to follow or get acquainted with but still, somewhere there’s nervousness or a thin sheet of ice when it comes to making proficient networks for the future.

Let’s see how these opportunities got its place and how its importance is crucial for personal as well as career advancements.

As I said that we are almost known with the concept of networking for years as per the sake of mutually beneficial relationships.
The concept of networking has been providing positive results for so long, as we learned to make and maintain connections. Initially, it started with a group of like-minded people whom we know within the same field with known skillsets and expertise.
As times moving, so is the need to expand this opportunity of networking which today could get us the chance to understand changing work dynamics through getting to connect with people having different talents across diversified work ecosystems.
Where a large part of the market been introducing various job roles, related resources, latest technologies so is the arising need for different and dynamic skillset and labor to get matched within the space.
Since the requirement of networking is increasing, the ways for doing it have been developed during times to gather people of different industries and different expertise for acquiring the right talent along with opening and encouraging new opportunities celebrating invent of unique ideas.
There can be seen as an increasing trend about sources related to networking as people with their fast-paced lives are understanding the importance and requirement of good and supportive networks. So, networking events, conferences and meets are being organized on a wider basis to help people make vital connections for getting close to their next opportunity and grow together.

HOW HAS THIS NEW NORMAL PHASE AFFECTED PEOPLE IN TERMS OF CREATING AND SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES?

The COVID 19 pandemic has not only is affecting people’s health and lives but has caused an unbelievable impact on the economies as well.

During the lockdown period to save people’s lives, it has taken a downturn not only with people’s mental health but has seized job opportunities, affected businesses and markets with even the undersupply of necessities to the poor class.

Though to revive economies, businesses, and re-creating markets, getting in touch with the connections through networking is becoming the new essential for the hour ad is helping people to deal with in this time of crisis. Networking has again provided people with a ray of hope to adapt to this new normal way of sustaining and developing lives through coping with this change.

Within the lockdown period, the matter of discussion about the fate of employment opportunities, new working methods and changing market trends has given networking its top place where people got a chance to get virtually connected with different industry people and getting to know about various opportunities to be created along with exposure to an array of possible options.

The new normal phase has brought change where networking used to take place at different venues and events at present its more concentrated on digital networking.

WHAT THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING HAS TAUGHT US DURING LAST MONTHS?

Whilst noticing and tracking the tenacity which economic downturn has brought in, a lot has been changed and experienced during the past two months and in almost every sector impacting personal as well as professional lives.

Noticing such uncertainties about our professional careers, we tend to make use of different networking strategies to re-organize/revive our fortunes back. But somewhere we had neglected the real intent behind networking. As today we are networking to get ahead and with like-minded professional people who could direct us to our next opportunity.

It is understandable seeking the desperate times, the need to connect had also taken the relevant turn. But somewhere we had underestimated the meaning of networking till connecting with the new people carrying multiple talents but within this time gradually its been about reconnecting with already known people could even provide us with the needed help where the third person who knows us already could help us connect with the right person.

Networking has taught us how to connect successfully with displaying the right behaviors and attitudes to deal with people generating and evolving potential opportunities.

And you never know by whom and from where your next opportunity would appear or show up. Social networks are also important and supportive of professional networks.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS/MEDIUMS FOR OUTREACHING PEOPLE THROUGH DIGITAL NETWORK?

Presently, traditional working methods have changed and are actively involved in adopting new ways of coping better with these changes where work and management could be improvised through virtual networking.

Remote working is becoming the new cool and could seem like a more sustainable concept to get quality work done through hiring different talents and generating various employment opportunities.

To adapt efficiently with the intent of connecting and managing remote working teams. Traditional ways of networking have also replaced by new ways by getting connected virtually via digital platforms. There are different ways of networking concerning building and growing networks for professional working/remote work.

Virtual Conferences.

Includes meetings for ongoing issues through creating workshops, hosting conference meetings about networking, and even one-n-one business meet.

Roundtables.

This has become a kind of popular medium to connect with experts and networking about issues and challenges with creative solutions often runs on video conferencing software with a group of people attending to be part of discussions.

Webinars.

A popular medium for promoting products/services or distributing information to prospective clients via presenting valuable solutions to them encouraging them to follow the session via Q&A sessions and providing relevant resources.

Professional Social Networking Sites and Messaging Apps.

Sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, Twitter is better for connecting with people within wider geographical locations and to share, gain information, and from reliable resources. WhatsApp and other mobile messaging services are gaining importance when it comes to establish connections and maintain business relations.

WANT A CAREER BOOST OR EVEN A CHANGE IN PROFESSION?
(NETWORKING IS ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE)!

In this article, until now we have read about networking with its importance and how it’s been changing various ways for networking, though understanding, growing, and maintaining professional networks making optimal and wise use of communication has helped many.

Your network could act as your support system for future career growth by providing you with insights, referrals, resources, and even necessary recommendations in case you might want to change your field. Once you become good at maintaining connections with keeping track and acknowledging its wise use, they could help you with different job leads and outreach suggestions.

Let’s dive a little into the next section to understand how to reach the right target and acing the art of “Outreaching”.

RELEVANT STEPS TO BETTER NETWORKING IN THE NEW NORMAL.

For making the whole process of outreaching the right people and making this work for you, search for the networking opportunities as mentioned in the above section of different mediums.
The next step is learning how to approach by seeing the daily postings on social networking sites of your connections to get a glimpse of how to carry/start on the initial conversation or about communicating any mutual interest/topic to support each other viewpoints.
The topic of conversation or purpose of connecting with the person should underline the need/wish towards mutual benefits for both parties.
Networking for establishing engaging conversations with thrift to cherish knowledge and celebrate different learnings.
For outreaching people and with a desire to establish future relations, be ready to adapt and practice professional etiquette, mannerism and specific behaviors to approach and interact.
Most importantly the art of outreaching the right people all depends on the ability of you to “ASK” for the right thing, seeking upon right expectation in the desire to establish a needed intention with taking into account mutual interest.

HAVE AND CREATE NETWORKING GOALS.

Creating and maintaining our professional interest and career takes time along with effective planning and strategizing the next move towards our vision.

To successfully attaining this purpose, we need to focus on the formation of our future goals. The same is with networking, to make out its mutual beneficial use we should set goals and plan to build up professional networks ensuring positive engagements.

Some quick tips upon creating and planning your networking goals:

Show yourself, build your personal brand.
Networking in-person benefits you in many ways, but looking at the situation at hand connecting virtually is also essential, meeting on time and necessary details.
Taking care of timed communication, try to make introduction/statement of purpose about you, your profession, your objective behind connecting with the person.
It’s a little better if you could get ahead for networking through referrals, it’s like acquiring a major piece of cake in the process of networking.
You could carry your business cards or your copies of updated resumes knowing well your purpose of connecting with potential networks.

BOTTOM LINE.

We are hoping that economies would get its boost within time, and will surely revive with effective planning, concentrated application of reliable and flexible strategies contributing in evolving overall work dynamics.

The networking role under this new normal period would act as a catalyst in the strengthening of relationships for the efficient attainment of professional as well as personal goals with providing needed support to economies and wellbeing dedicating to future growth.

I hope these steps would help you with your outreaching and networking process and help to better understand its underlying purpose.