Five Tips to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone and Build Your Network

Two female friends talking.By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Networking. It’s one of those things we all know we should do, but for many people, it just doesn’t come naturally. One of those people was Laurie Dalton White, Managing Director of Hill + Knowlton Strategies, and Conference Director for the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, the Massachusetts Conference for Women, and the Texas Conference for Women.

According to White, the conferences – which have helped over 150,000 women connect over the past thirteen years – are designed to provide a comfortable space for women to swap ideas, success strategies, and business cards. She explained, “Our goals are to provide women a space to educate, inspire, and encourage each other to achieve their goals.”

Here’s how she managed to achieve her own dream of connecting women so that they can help one another thrive – and become an expert networker along the way.

1. Tap Into Your Passion

White explained that she herself wasn’t always a keen networker. Learning to step outside her comfort zone helped change that.

She explained, “I’m really not a big fan of making small talk with people I don’t know. However, everyone running a business knows that a key part of running a successful enterprise is networking. So I’ve had to go out of my comfort zone, to talk to potential sponsors, learn about new aspects of the always-evolving conference business, and to stay current on issues that matter most to professional women.”

Ultimately, her enthusiasm for helping women connect helped her through her initial uneasiness. “I’m passionate about the conferences and our mission to help women, which helps to take the discomfort out of networking. I believe that if you are lucky enough to find something you are passionate about and are able to earn a living at it, a little discomfort is a small price to pay.”

2. Use Your Context

Everyone at a networking event is there to meet new people – you’re all in the same boat, so don’t be afraid to approach someone you don’t know. White suggests that this could make it easier to break the ice.

“A simple question can often get an interesting conversation started. For example, just asking people what their favorite part of the event has been so far, or what they are most looking forward to,” she explained.

3. Listen and Learn

Be on the lookout for people who seem different than you. Someone with a fresh perspective can help spark new ideas or solutions that you may not have thought of.

White advised, “Listen. When you’re curious about others and open yourself up to what others have to say, it’s amazing what you can learn. I’ve also learned that the people who are the most different from me are also the most likely to teach me something.”

4. Focus on the End Result

White explained, “The Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas Conferences for Women provide a unique opportunity for women of all different backgrounds to gather together to inspire and encourage one another. More than at mixed-gender conferences, women’s events offer a chance for women to be completely open in sharing the realities and challenges of being a professional woman.”

Ultimately, the goal of networking is not just to meet people, but to leverage those new connections for mutual success. When you meet someone at a networking event, rather than just making small talk, think about ways you can help one another. White added, “We’ve heard from a number of attendees that connections they made at the Conference helped them land a dream job, inspired them to launch a new business or nonprofit, and build long-lasting mentor relationships. “

5. Celebrate Your Connections

Finally, White says it’s important to celebrate the success you’ve created through networking relationships. She said, “I think having a network of people that can serve either as your advisory board, whether for you or your business, can help you weather challenges and make life easier and not so isolating.”

She continued, “Years ago I read an article in Pink Magazine about two women who worked together at a Fortune 500 company. Both were hired about the same time and both shared information on promotional opportunities, raises, and bonuses as their careers progressed. And as both climbed the corporate ladder, they realized that by sharing information that they had increased their collective salaries by thousands of dollars.”

Making the connection between relationships and career advancement can make networking seem more worthwhile. Building relationships can also help you enjoy your own career and professional path more – resulting in a happier, more successful you!