Everything I Know About Networking I Learned from Gardening!

This month our SVWL Community Member, Courtney Gearhart she shares that by taking inspiration from gardeners, we can Cultivate, Sow, Grow, Nourish and Harvest our way to more impactful professional relationships. 

Courtney is a Senior Public Affairs Program Manager at REI and lives with her family in Snoqualmie.

photo credit: Viktorija Juodenaite

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Five ways to plant seeds, grow your professional network and reap the benefits

Networking is a tool I use everyday and has been valuable throughout my life. Upon moving to Seattle after college, it helped me find a place to live and a job opportunity that secured my first salaried job at a company I admired. Through my career, networking has also helped me meet life-long friends, change industries, build media relationships, and today helps me engage cross-divisional teams as we execute thrilling campaigns and product launches.

I admire people who step into every networking opportunity as a way to plant a seed and grow a relationship. Like a good gardener, they don't expect every connection to bloom immediately, and they know it’s a process that takes time, practice and patience. They also know they may not reap the benefits of a connection for months, or even years.

Networking will come easily the more you do it. But for many people, it can be overwhelming, intimidating, and even intangible. Here are a few key skills I’ve learned to build a professional network.  

1. Cultivate: Set reasonable expectations. Expecting to meet new best friends or find a job after attending a networking event can lead to disappointment. Set realistic attainable goals such as “go to an event I know I’ll benefit from,” or "meet someone with a cool job,” and "find at least one interesting person to invite to coffee next week." 
   
   I became a member of a local PR association early into my career. I met a lot of people, but didn’t give those relationships enough of my attention. Skip ahead a couple of years and I began to see how the people I met were pivotal to the local industry. I started leaning into the group’s talents to gain new insights and meet more people. I also participated in events in more meaningful ways by joining committees and sitting on the board. It’s been more than 20 years since I first joined that group, and I still reach out to many of those individuals to brainstorm or introduce me to other people in their network.  

2. Sow: Everyone you encounter has something interesting to connect with you on. It could be work or life-related, but usually you can find something interesting to discuss in less than one minute by asking the right questions. Networking doesn't have to be solely about work. It can start with something as simple as discovering a shared interest in things like hiking or parenting. 
   
   When I attend an event, I make an effort to find someone new to meet. Open-ended questions  help me get to know someone new. Try using a question like, “where did you grow up,” or “what brought you to the Pacific Northwest,” or “what do you love about the Snoqualmie Valley?” The more I open myself and reach out, the more people will divulge. Generally everyone in the room is there for a similar reason, is grateful for acknowledgement and is open to connecting.

3. Grow: People love talking about themselves, let them. A great networking conversation allows you to find common ground. The best way to help someone open up is to ask questions and try to discover a connection both of you are interested in or passionate about. Once I find a topic that brings us both joy, we talk about it for a while and I enjoy learning from the person and hearing a new perspective. I share my contact information and ask for theirs. Afterwards, I follow up and add them to my network.
   
   

4. Nourish: Push yourself and grow your connections.
   Getting outside your comfort zone can open doors to rich relationships. Here are a few ways to nourish your connections:
   
   Set up at least one in-person or virtual coffee with a new person each quarter. Get to know them better. Get a sense of their day-to-day work life. It may be one of the best ways to help you grow your network.
   
   Say “yes!” Have you ever been invited to attend an interesting event by a friend or someone you recently met? Your first reaction might be to think of an excuse to say no. Before you do, consider what you might gain by saying yes. And when you do, take the time during the event to build on your initial connection. Go deeper into other topics that may help build each other’s initiatives and invite them to other events you think they would be interested in. 
   
   Did you like the speaker? Go introduce yourself and share why  you enjoyed the presentation. True story: I attended an event and connected with the keynote afterward. That conversation led to my company being part of a major motion picture!

5. Harvest: Leverage  LinkedIn to let your network work for itself.  LinkedIn is a powerful tool to maintain your professional relationships. In addition to making sure your profile is complete and up-to-date, consider sharing relevant stories about learnings or observations  in your area of expertise. Engage with other folks in your network as well. 

   Elevate your colleagues by commenting on their posts or tagging them when they've done something great. Write a recommendation for someone you admire without being prompted. You can also expand your network by finding people to follow based on their posts, and commenting when appropriate. If you are interested in a particular career or job, don't hesitate to reach out to people in that field. Side chats are a great start, virtual coffee dates are even better! 
   
   Finally, keep in touch with your network by checking in with people from time to time, or send them something you think they would enjoy. “Hey, this story (or job post) made me think of you.” In return, your network will start doing the same for you.