Five networking tips from APM President Dr Yvonne Thompson

The power of networking to elevate your career is a theme close to the heart of APM’s new President Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE DL (she gave some brilliant tips at the APM Fellows’ dinner in Coventry).

“I think networking is very underrated. I think it should be part of people’s [employment] contract. If you do it in the right way, you never know who you’re going to meet that’s going to make a huge difference to you, your project or whatever you’re doing.”

So, what are the top tips this savvy networker would pass on to project professionals?

1. Go on a networking course

Don’t dismiss networking as something that you shouldn’t be interested in doing (especially as it can be an excruciating experience for so many of us). Instead, view it as something that is so important that you really shouldn’t be avoiding it.

“Everyone should actually go on a networking course or be encouraged to network at least once a month, otherwise you might as well just be remote working,” she says.

Even if you’re wedded to the idea of remote working, remember that meeting up with colleagues in real life is something that can’t truly be replaced. So, if you need help with your networking skills, seek out help from those who excel at it.

2. The three Ps of networking

For those to whom the art of networking doesn’t come naturally, Dr Thompson’s advice is clear – approach it with passion, purpose and positioning (the three Ps, as she calls it). The passion part needs little explaining (capitalise on your enthusiasm for your job, your project or whatever gets you motivated), but the purpose aspect requires you to consider ahead of time who you want to meet, why you are going – and who might want to meet you.

Positioning is about what level you want to network at – is it your peers you want to chat to? People younger than you, to find out what they can teach you? Or perhaps it’s making yourself known to those higher up the ladder?

“I always think about trying to network up,” Dr Thompson says. Be focused on which networking opportunities you think would benefit you – and how. There’s no point wasting your time and energy on events that won’t benefit you.

3. Use WhatsApp

Networking on LinkedIn isn’t as effective as you might think, says Dr Thompson.

“People will say ‘let’s connect’, and either they do connect straight away or they totally forget to accept you. I’m sitting there waiting for them to connect and they’ve forgotten. LinkedIn is dependent on enthusiasm and memory,” she says.

But if you network through WhatsApp, it’s easy, she explains.

“Go into your WhatsApp settings and there is a QR code there right next to your name, and all people have got to do is scan that QR code and they go straight into your WhatsApp contacts.”

Try it at the next event you attend and see if it works.

4. Listening is as important as speaking

When it comes to effective communication, there is a saying that you’ve got two ears and one mouth, and you should use them in that in order, Dr Thompson says. In any conversation, “listen more and talk less, or listen first before you speak. I think that’s really important as far as communication is concerned.”

Active listening, where you’re really paying attention to someone and taking in what they are saying, rather than worrying about the next thing you’ll say, takes practice. Not only will you follow up with relevant questions, but it will make you feel more relaxed too — the other person will feel they have your undivided attention.

5. Connecting is powerful

“I love making connections,” says Dr Thompson. That means making new ones, but also sharing the ones you have.

“People always say, why do you always give your contacts away? Well, they’re not mine. They can connect with who they want to,” she explains. “I think it’s a really powerful thing to do to help people — if I can’t do something [to help someone], then I usually know someone who can.”

The lesson here? Not only will you feel good about supporting others, but that help might come back to you in the future.

 

Read Project’s Big Interview with Dr Thompson in the Autumn 2024 issue.

 

You may also be interested in:

• APM North West Network Meetup - Making Connections
  
• Leadership: How to network
• Communication and collaboration