Networking During the Holidays: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The Holiday season has snuck up on us once again. Nothing ever seems to prepare us for the holidays and the chaos that comes along with them. While it may be the busiest time of year, This time of year is about being grateful, present, and spreading positivity. It is also a great time to work on growing your business and building connections with others who can help you grow. Here are the best ways to build business connections while keeping in the holiday spirit!
Holiday Parties
Whether you are working for a company or running your own, holiday gatherings within your business are crucial to a successful work environment. These events give so many different kinds of people the opportunities to connect with each other on a personal level. Holiday get-togethers also reward your team for the hard work that they have put in throughout the year. Not only is it a way to say thank you, but it makes building connections much easier and much more natural.
If you are not currently working for a company that has holiday events, pitch the idea to a manager as a team building opportunity and a way to build meaningful connections and memories.
Take a Class
Signing up for a yoga class, Zumba, cycling, etc. are all great ways to build business connections. Networking can sometimes feel forced and too professional in traditional corporate settings. Taking some classes on your own time will give you the opportunity to challenge yourself as well as form natural connections with people in the real world.
Taking part in fitness classes like yoga and Zumba are also really helpful for self growth. The exercises are great for sparking creativity and motivation as well as improving your confidence. This makes it the perfect setting to go out of your comfort zone and meet people who are also looking to grow.
Similarly, a gym is a great place to meet people, specifically a higher end gym can help you meet people who have excelled in their career and can teach you new things.
Exercise is also a great stress reliever. This time of year is known to be hectic and brings about tons of stress. Taking personal time to better yourself while simultaneously growing your network is a win-win!
Send Out Holiday Cards/Emails
The Holidays are the perfect time to reach out to people that you may not have been in touch with for a while. Use this time of year to your advantage and reach out to people that can help you develop business ideas and new relationships. This can be done by sending a family or company holiday card/email or even sending them out on websites like Linkedin. Receiving a holiday greeting feels personal and thoughtful. It also keeps your name fresh in people’s minds.
It doesn’t just have to be people that you already know. Sending a Holiday card or email to a new or potential client is a friendly way to build a new relationship and works like advertising.
Start Small
Networking can sometimes mean going out of your comfort zone. It may not come naturally to everybody and that’s okay. Some people forget about the network they have already created throughout their lives whether it was in a professional setting or not.
Networking is meant to be a way of building connections with people and creating contacts in every field. All different kinds of people can help you in ways that you could never expect. That being said, an easy way to start your networking process can involve reaching out to an old friend from high school or making small talk with someone new. Just by being a friendly person it can help you to grow your circle and make people really remember you.
Be a Go Getter
One of the best tips for networking is knowing what you are looking for and going for it! If you are looking to meet people in a specific field you can go where people who have those professions will be and naturally build connections with them. This can simply be going to the same restaurants, stores, etc. Seek out what you want and go for it. Sometimes it's just about being at the right place at the right time.
Become a Member
The Long Island Center is an amazing organization that values building up women and creating meaningful connections in the business world. The Long Island Center connects people from all different backgrounds and gives them the opportunity to come together and learn from each other.
They often hold exciting events that bring people together while giving you access to knowledgeable guest speakers, seminars, dinners, workshops, and ways to help bring you more business. Joining is easy and well worth it.