Hej, predivna! Spremna za malo ljepote i inspiracije?

Hey gorgeous! Ready for a little beauty and inspiration?

Chocolate and peanut butter, Negronis and orange peels, Pooh and Tigger. Some things just go hand in hand with each other. And the professional world is no different. As long as there has been business, there has been networking.

It’s changed over the years, sure – especially with the advent of the internet. Business cards used to be essential, but now a LinkedIn profile is the modern “calling card” of choice. A printed resume was the key to impressing a potential boss, whereas a digital portfolio wins you points today. And of course, networking used to be all conventions and mixers. Today, this practice of building connections has expanded to include Zoom calls, emails, and newsletter articles. 

Fortunately for us, that means the world is quite literally at our fingertips. Technology often gets a bad reputation as isolating its users and decreasing human contact, but when used intentionally, it can actually have the opposite effect. 

Let’s break down the pros of building connections and a community online, as well as some of my favorite ways to maximize its benefits. 

Casting A Wider Net

For every business, there is a client. For every employee, there is a boss. For every offering, there is an audience. One of the many blessings of the internet is being able to reach a much wider range of folks, which allows you to find those who will truly appreciate your mission. 

TIP: Show up everywhere, even places that you might not think make sense for you. Being open, interested, and excited will take you so much farther than you might think. The whole crux of networking is that you never know who may be able to open a door or solve a problem for you – or make your community that much warmer – so it’s great to expand your horizons.

Staying Connected

This one may seem painfully obvious, but it’s easy to forget how accessible birthday or anniversary reminders, career change announcements, and big win shares are on sites like LinkedIn. We have the flexibility to keep up with folks from the comfort of our desks, at the convenience of our schedules. Essentially, it’s incredibly easy to keep up with people now online. And you never know how those little moments of contact might pay off! 

TIP: A little effort goes a long way. When you meet someone you click with, make sure to add them on LinkedIn. Then set a timer for 10 minutes every day, scroll through your feed, and make a point of liking, commenting, congratulating, and connecting them with other folks in your network when the opportunity arises. After all, it’s consistent energy that builds a community. 

Class Is In Session

No matter how far you are in your career, there is always more to learn. In fact, the best professionals I know are ones who constantly seek out new information from everywhere around them, not just within their own discipline. Turning to your network as a source of education is free yet invaluable; everyone has something to teach us. 

TIP: Read the newsletters you sign up for; attend your connection’s webinar; leave your question in a comment on that post. Opening up your definition of where and how learning happens can transform your career and life for the better. Plus, it’s fun!

FINAL THOUGHTS

The truth in both business and personal lives hasn’t changed: engagement is what builds community. And being online makes connecting easier, more diverse, and more educational than ever before. Wrap all these elements together, and you have a solid way to truly build a community – and not just a professional one at that. Something that starts out as a business coffee meeting could become a monthly lunch catchup, which in turn might create the friendship of a lifetime. You never know! 

Ljubav, sjaj i poljupci!

Love, shine, and kisses!