5 tips on how to network as a project professional

On many projects I have worked on for clients, particularly in the past 3 - 4 years, I have found "hidden gems" lurking on the outskirts of my projects; watching what is going on intently but haven't got a seat at the right table.

If it was not for networking, I would never have discovered these people and they have added such value to my projects in terms of: helping to run pilots, leading on work packages, chasing people up for incomplete tasks/responses, running training sessions to their peers and the list goes on!

Networking for the sake of your projects does not have to be fearful or mundane (although, let's face it, for the introverts among us it is not necessarily something we always willingly and proactively seek)! You could simply see it as a chance of getting to know other people in the organisation - seeking out people that have an interest in your project. Here are some quick tips on how to do this.

1 - Identify what you want to achieve

What do you want to gain from building your network outside your project team and direct stakeholders? Do you want to improve the visibility of your project or yourself? Do you want to find people who can contribute towards the delivery of aspects of your projects? Be clear about what you want to achieve as this will help with the next four tips.

2 - Listen out for signs of people being interested in your project

Those first few minutes at the beginning of a virtual meeting, while you're waiting for everyone else to join, can sometimes be quite awkward if it's not filled with any small talk. But, it is in these moments or at the end of a meeting when people might express their interest in your project or your work. In one example I have experienced, I had a meeting with someone who was an expert in designing training programmes. She wasn't part of my project team, but I set the meeting up to find out what tips she wouldn't mind sharing. Towards the end of the meeting, she let us know how interested she was in our project and that she was passionate about transformation. I saw this as an invite to take this further and she became a valuable member of my learning support working group! The signs of interest may not always be as obvious as this, but you'll gradually build up that muscle to discover interests and motives.

3 - Think of a question starter

This is the very reason I chose the picture above for this article. It captured this premise beautifully! (Credit to Mikelya KellySuu Fournier for the picture). If asking questions does not come naturally to you, think of one question to ask the person who has shown interest in your project/work. This could be as simple as asking them if they would like to be involved in your project / work; you could ask what they're working on now and identify where the similarities could be between your work.

4 - Identify the win-win benefits

Work out what you can offer them (in the case of the scenario I described above, I offered for her to join my learning support working group to help design learning methods and materials). Also think about what is in it for them - perhaps they want to expand on an existing skill they have or want to learn a new skills - and your project / work can help them to achieve this.

5 - Follow through

Whatever you have offered to them, make sure you follow through on it. Be a person of your word and take steps towards setting up your suggestion of working together - keeping them updated on how you are progressing is a good idea too.

Get out there, get networking and build those relationships!