Networking is certainly not a new concept and it’s been at the centre of many conversations around career progression and business development for quite some time. With schedules being busier than ever, 41% of professionals reported that they wish they could network more but simply can’t find the time, with 25% of them not networking at all. Whatever life throws at you in the workplace, it’s important that you dedicate time to it as it can help you to progress in your career, but not just in the ways that you’d initially imagine. From boosting your confidence to providing support to like-minded people, it can help you build your profile, your network of contacts and reputation which can help you excel within your firm and beyond. With this in mind, it’s important to continually hone your personal skills in this area, through Continued Professional Development (CPD).
Give your confidence a boost
Networking might be a challenge for someone who is not keen on public speaking or sharing ideas in front of a group of people. However, this could be an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and allow you to enhance your personal skills. By pushing yourself to go out there, it can give your confidence a little boost (who wouldn’t want that?) and help you to overcome challenges and fears in the workplace such as new business meetings and team presentations. Lack of confidence can be incredibly detrimental to career progression and according to recent studies, 20% of individuals claim that they have missed out on a promotion in work due to lack of self-confidence, with 52% of them struggling with presenting to a large audience in particular. Having confidence in yourself when communicating can drastically change the outcomes of a meeting for the best: 72% of professionals report that first impressions and a confident handshake can have a strong and positive impact. However, if confidence is not your strongest trait, all is not lost. We know how difficult it can be and through our Business Development and Networking Skills course, you will be able to develop and enhance these skills to help give your confidence that added boost.
Relationships matter
Socialising is one of the most basic human needs and it can help us lead healthier and happier lives. Networking is a fantastic way to satisfy this need in the professional environment, bolstering your relationship-building skills with like-minded individuals. This can prove beneficial in the workplace, especially if your role revolves around building and managing client relationships. After all, did you know that humans decide on how trustworthy a person is in a tenth of a second? As well as building those all-important relationships, enhancing your personal skills will also enable you to stay compliant with the requirements set out in the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) handbook, helping you to deliver an exceptional and professional service to the client. A CPD course is a great way to improve your ‘soft’ skills and will allow you to utilise these elements to reach your full potential. But regardless of how skilled you become in the business of networking, review the opportunities available in your industry and focus only on the events or courses that will add real value to you and your performance in the workplace. Make sure you don’t overload yourself with events from which you won’t be able to gain anything.
Show your support
We are sure than anyone who is reading this blog today has faced a number of challenges in their career and wish they had peers in the industry to seek advice from. Peer to peer support in the workplace or within the wider business community is crucial in helping to stay abreast of the latest industry developments and will allow you to learn from the experiences of others. Zen & the Art of Legal Networking has recently explored the relationship between networking and success – by sharing ideas, knowledge, tips and information, you can help other people in the field achieve better results. Remember, networking is all about give and take, helping and supporting each other where possible.
Whether you are looking to secure new job opportunities or would simply like to bolster your network, undertaking ongoing training can help you to improve your networking skills and aid career progression. It’s critical to remember that networking plays a crucial role in building an individual’s – and business’ – reputation and profile, and it’s essential that you know how to get it right. Today we have talked about some of its key benefits and it’s important that you keep this front of mind, particularly when reviewing your calendar and the opportunities available to you. So if you’d like to enhance your skills and continue your professional development, speak to a member of the team today by calling 02920 451 000 or email us at infoaltior@barbri.com