5 Major Benefits of Networking

 

For ages, wise people have known and understood the power of coming together in groups with like minded individuals. In years past, these groups have gone by many different names such as guilds, clans, communities, brotherhoods, societies, fraternities, sororities, committees, councils, and gangs just to name a few. This idea is not new, but the benefits of networking are not commonly taught to the non-elite individuals.

There are many benefits to networking. Every culture, in every place on earth knows this. All the way from an African tribe working together to hunt, all the way to modern militaries using various teams to defend a country. In this article, we will discuss some of the big reasons you should be networking.

 

Information

 

Each person has unique experiences, knowledge, and understanding. When you surround yourself with people, you are opening yourself up to all kinds of feedback and information that you would never have gotten without your network.

This is even more true when you have a network of professionals or highly skilled individuals. You’ll always have the information you need. All you need to do is reach out and ask.

 

Self-Improvement

 

With all the knowledge and information you are surrounded with within a network, you will have built in tutors and people willing to help you learn. You may also find people that want to learn similar skills as you, and you can work together to learn faster and better.

Many communities and networks offer education as well. If they do, take advantage of what they offer. This really depends on the network.

 

Opportunity

 

When you’re in a network, you know people that need employees. You know people that hire employees. You know people that know people that hire employees. You’ll also know people that are aware of positions. When you’re in a network, you will have doors opened for you that you will not have otherwise.

When you’re in a network, you’ve developed relationships with people that may be business owners, or someone that wants to open a business, even someone that is a self contractor. They may need partners. Your business can help someone else in your network’s business. It’s mutually beneficial, and it’s an opportunity you would only get in a network.

People prefer to use people they know over people they don’t know. This is true for everything in life. If you provide anything at all, people in your network will open up doors for you.

 

Leverage

 

This is a huge benefit to professional networking that most people do not understand. Leverage is the secret to massive success. A network is simply a form of leverage. However, for you to get the benefits of the leverage, you must know how to use it as leverage.

What is leverage? It means using tools to do more than you can do without the tool. Think of it this way: a car is leverage, because you can travel a bigger distance in less time than you could go without the vehicle. Debt is leverage to an investor, because you can invest more money than you could without the debt. Do you understand what leverage is?

A network provides you with a group of people that are dedicated to helping each other. Each person has unique skills. This by itself is leverage. But with 10 people helping you, you will get way more done than if you did it by yourself. Your network is leverage; it’s a tool you can use to do more than you could do without it.

 

A place of belonging

 

Everyone desires the sense of belonging. Everyone wants to “fit in” and feel wanted. They desire a family, or brotherhood. People have an innate sense of community. This is why networks have existed for years.

There are many communities out there for people to have a sense of belonging; a place to call home. Networks can be great for this. It is definitely worth the effort to find a network, just for this benefit.

 

Bonus Benefit of Networking: Safety

 

I know I said there were 5 benefits discussed in this article, but I feel that this is also a very important benefits. Many people join communities and networks just for this reason. Safety.

It is a well known fact that there is safety in numbers. People in your network will be willing to support you mentally through tough times. They may be encouraging to you. They may stick up for you. Depending on the type of network they can provide physical safety as well.

As you can see, there are many benefits of networking and any of these reasons are very strong reasons to join a network.

 

Resources

 

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