Studio Superstars: Day 16 | How to Network

Aug 20 in ⭐️ Studio Superstars Challenge

Create meaningful connections in your industry by focusing on making friends, being genuinely interested in others, and being helpful.

Lesson Overview:

• Understand that networking is about building relationships, not just finding work.

• Learn how to make a lasting impression by being social, helpful, and interested in others.

• Explore the benefits of in-person networking and the impact of building genuine connections.

Lesson Content:

1. Shift Your Networking Mindset:

• Concept: The key to effective networking is to approach it with the mindset of making friends and being genuinely interested in others. While your goal might be to find work, your focus should be on building relationships.

• Exercise: Reflect on past networking experiences. How can you shift your approach to focus more on building friendships and less on selling yourself?

• Reflection: How does changing your mindset to making friends impact the way you approach networking opportunities?

2. The Power of Being Known:

• Concept: A mentor once told me, “It’s not about who you know. It’s about who knows you.” The goal is to develop a network of people who think of you when opportunities arise.

• Exercise: Consider how you can increase your visibility within your network. What steps can you take to ensure that people remember you and bring you up in conversations?

• Reflection: How can being more social and engaged help others remember you when opportunities come up?

3. Being Social, Helpful, and Interested:

• Concept: The best way to network is to be as social, helpful, and interested as possible. Engage with others by asking questions, providing thorough answers, and offering encouragement and feedback.

• Exercise: Identify one online community or in-person event where you feel comfortable engaging with others. Commit to actively participating by asking questions, sharing your knowledge, and supporting others.

• Reflection: How does being genuinely helpful and interested in others change the dynamics of your networking efforts?

4. The Advantage of In-Person Networking:

• Concept: While online networking is valuable, in-person connections can be even more impactful. Attending events and meeting people face-to-face can give you a significant advantage.

• Exercise: Research upcoming industry events or local meetups where you can connect with others in person. Make a plan to attend and focus on building relationships rather than promoting yourself.

• Reflection: How can attending in-person events enhance your networking efforts and create stronger, more lasting connections?

5. Focus on Relationships, Not Sales:

• Concept: Effective networking is about building relationships, not just selling yourself. When you focus on connecting with others on a personal level, the business opportunities will naturally follow.

• Exercise: Reflect on how you can prioritize relationship-building in your networking efforts. Identify ways to be more genuine, supportive, and approachable.

• Reflection: How does focusing on relationships rather than sales change your perspective on networking?

Call to Action:

• Share your networking experiences with the community and discuss how focusing on building relationships has impacted your approach.

• Identify one new networking opportunity (online or in-person) where you can apply these principles.

• Support each other by sharing tips and strategies for effective, relationship-focused networking.

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