Networking | Building meaningful relationships

Networking | Building meaningful relationships

Keywords: networking, peer-to-peer learning, personal and professional development, self-awareness, joy.

Networking: “It can be accomplished in almost any situation that allows interaction with other scientists” (Haynes et al., 2008)

For whom?

This networking workshop is specifically designed for academics looking to improve their networking skills while connecting with peers and gaining support. Those who feel they need to network but believe they cannot due to, for example, 1) lack of confidence, 2) uncertainty about how to network, 3) limited beliefs about how networking should occur, and 4) thinking they are not interesting to others, are welcome. As it turns out, misconceptions and uncertainties often surround networking and ideas about how it should be conducted. 

Therefore, I would rather talk about building meaningful relationships, which shifts the focus to following your curiosity, understanding others better, and sharing your own experiences. You listen, you give, and you share, and this can benefit both parties in one way or another. And everyone is doing this all day; sometimes it just helps becoming a bit more aware of that, because where you least expect it, new conversations and connections can suddenly spark.

In this workshop, you will learn:

  • To become aware of all (un)expected networking opportunities.
  • How to network and stay yourself.
  • That networking is a two-way process and not about what you can “gain”.
  • To build strong network ties is your day-to-day (work) setting.
  • To actually start networking with the other participants.
  • Starting to see the fun of networking.

Participating in this Networking workshop will help you become more comfortable with networking by increasing your self-awareness of who you are, how to present yourself, and what you can contribute to conversations. While doing this, you might also establish new connections with peers and see what they could lead to in the future… 😉

To tailor the workshop to your needs, you’ll receive a short questionnaire about your expectations, desires, and individual networking challenges.

How does it work?

This workshop takes a practical approach, guiding you step by step to become comfortable with networking. It is designed to support participants at all levels of comfort, including those who may feel nervous about networking. Through some background knowledge, exercises, and peer exchange, you’ll learn both how to present yourself and what you do in an engaging way, as well as discover what works best for you in networking.

The activities are deliberately low-pressure to promote full participation. Sample activities include role-plays to practise real-world networking scenarios, small group discussions to share insights and experiences, and interactive exercises to build confidence and ease in connecting with others.

After the workshop, you can expect to have:

  • Insights into how and where to network.
  • Ideas about what works for you.
  • Practical tools (and courage!) to use during your next networking opportunity.

By consistently following your curiosity, being open to learning about others and sharing your own, you hold the key to maintaining and actively engaging with your network.

JOIN!

The primary goal of this workshop is to help participants feel comfortable with networking and take practical steps to begin doing it. It offers a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment where all experiences are valued and new ways to network are encouraged. 

Key details of the Networking Workshop:

  • Duration: 3h
  • Preparation: 30 minutes
  • Group size: 10-15 participants (flexible)
  • Language: available in Dutch or English

Contact me to learn about the possibilities.

Additional information

Based on my experience with clients looking to enhance their networking skills and some personal ventures into networking, I have summarised helpful insights in the following blogs: