Making Networking Work for You: Create a Genuine Community
- Aug 14, 2025
- 4 min read
What would you do if you were given a challenging assignment at work that you didn’t immediately know how to approach? What about if you were laid off? If you were up for a promotion? If you saw an opening at your company in a different area that looked interesting? If you came across your dream job on LinkedIn? If you had an idea for a partnership opportunity that would expand the market share for your product or service?
These are very different prompts, but you could answer them all the same way: find someone you know who can help, and reach out to them. In each situation, there are experienced people who have been through it before, or at least know how to act as an effective sounding board to help you think through your next steps more productively than you could do alone. This is the “why” of networking. Networking can feel like a dirty word, a transactional act that uncomfortably touches on both exploitation and vulnerability. But at its heart, it’s community. In the often isolated, highly mobile world we live in, making connections can feel awkward, unnatural and overwhelming, but it’s almost impossible to succeed without them. And it’s much more fun to have company and support along your path!
It can feel more exploitative and less effective if you wait until you need something from someone to connect with them for the first time. Start building your community now, and it’ll feel much more natural to reach out with a specific ask. Here are four research-backed tools to build a cohesive, caring community that will be there for you when you need a boost:
Join groups with recurring meetings, ideally in person. Most industries have a professional association of some sort with local chapters. There will often be a fee to join and attend events, but that increases the level of commitment people feel and encourages members to get to know each other to get the most out of their investment. Often your company will pay for the membership and event fees or allow you to expense it. The key is to go consistently so you can leverage the “mere exposure effect,” a common bias that predisposes us to prefer people we see more often, regardless of what the actual content of those interactions may be[1].
Do informational interviews. While often recommended to early career individuals, I find this to be a useful tool at every stage of the career lifecycle. Find people who are doing things that seem interesting, and ask if you can take them out for coffee or a meal, even if virtually over Zoom, to hear about their experience and their advice. It’s great if you have a mutual acquaintance that can connect you, but don’t be afraid to reach out cold using LinkedIn or your company directory. The worst that can happen is they ignore you or say no. They will not think less of you, and there is a good chance they will meet with you. People love to talk about themselves[2]. The experience will make them feel positive about you and you will likely learn a lot. Don’t forget at the end of every conversation to thank them and ask if they recommend someone else for you to reach out to next!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. While it will likely make you feel better to build relationships in other ways first, the Ben Franklin effect shows that the act of helping someone makes the helper like that person more[3]. Asking for help and finding ways to help others in return is a great way to activate closer relationships.
Keep an open mind, and keep in touch. When you meet someone in any context, whether social or professional, there is an endless amount of exciting potential in the relationship. They may become a great friend, or a helpful acquaintance. Weak acquaintances have been shown to be significant assets in helping people find jobs, as well as other opportunities[4]. Don’t make the connection simply because of what it can do for you professionally, however. Genuine curiosity and a desire to engage on a personal level are the best ways to spark a meaningful connection and raise memorable topics in the conversation that you can then follow up on in the future. Reach out to your friends and colleagues in small ways throughout the year so they know you are thinking of them. It makes everyone feel good, including you, and it keeps you top of mind in case of interesting opportunities.
Whether you are an extrovert with a natural affinity for socializing, an introvert who prefers to be left alone, or you defy simple categorization, you will still benefit professionally and personally from having a supportive community you can rely on. These tips can help you build one and/or leverage what you’ve already created. Enjoy the company. You can start by reaching out to me to connect if you haven’t already!
[2] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/positive-prescription/201703/why-we-love-talking-about-ourselves
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