“Your network is the people who want to help you, and you want to help them, and that’s really powerful.” These insightful words from Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, encapsulate the essence of networking events – a blend of collaboration, support, and boundless potential for attendees. Networking plays a pivotal role in fostering relationships, sparking innovation, and driving business success. Through events, attendees have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and establish lasting connections that are vital for business success and career growth.
In fact, networking events (whether happy hours or structured workshops), allow teams to grow in their professional environments and forge relationships that can lead to opportunities, growth, and mutual benefit for individuals and businesses alike. The right event with the right networking activities is one way to ensure this happens.
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When working with businesses to plan corporate events, a common goal among both business leaders and employees is to help teams grow and build connections. That’s often easier said than done, especially if your team is remote or there aren’t opportunities to make these connections.
That’s where networking events come in. Networking activities are structured or informal events designed to promote interactions and build relationships among professionals. These activities can be incorporated into a number of gatherings – from corporate events, formal dinners, and industry conferences to more casual meetups, team-building exercises, and social mixers.
No matter the type of event, the common goal is to create an environment where individuals can connect, share knowledge, and explore potential collaborations. Whether you are integrating a networking activity into an overall event or having an event dedicated to networking entirely, the goal is always to build connection. But why does all of that matter?
The importance of networking in the corporate world cannot be overstated. These activities provide a platform for professionals to expand their contacts. Building a strong network can lead to new business opportunities, partnerships, and referrals. These events empower employees to expand their networks, but they also provide lasting benefits for businesses as well. Companies that prioritize and invest in well-organized networking events reap substantial benefits, including stronger relationships, increased opportunities, and a robust professional community.
If you’re on the fence about networking events, consider the following impacts they bring to any organization.
Despite teams working closely together on a day-to-day basis, it’s likely true that individual employees haven’t had a chance to build relationships across departments. Or maybe your team works remotely, which means there’s even more of a need for everyone to gather to build connections. With networking events, team members can build rapport and trust more effectively by engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing experiences, and learning about the goals and challenges faced by others that they might have been unaware of without a networking event.
But networking is more than just putting people in a room and giving them a topic to talk about. Networking events often include structured activities designed to facilitate interaction, which encourage participants to collaborate, exchange ideas, and solve problems together, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. By working side by side, individuals can better understand each other's strengths and expertise, laying the groundwork for future collaborations and deepening existing relationships.
We already mentioned that networking events and activities mean employees are provided an opportunity to build connections with teams that they might not normally interact with. But why is that important? When teams consistently interact with the same group, they become comfortable within that circle. Although this isn’t inherently negative, it can restrict cross-departmental knowledge sharing and lead to information silos.
Networking events bring together a diverse group of professionals (each with unique experiences, expertise, and insights), which contributes to an increase in creativity. This diversity of information creates a rich environment where knowledge sharing is encouraged and new ideas can flourish. By participating in these events, attendees gain fresh perspectives on industry trends, best practices, and innovative solutions to common challenges, all through peer-to-peer learning.
But these events don’t only involve employees. They’ll often feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops led by industry experts. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for attendees to learn about the latest developments and advancements in their field. Similarly, interactive workshops allow participants to engage in hands-on learning experiences, enhancing their skills and knowledge in a practical and impactful way.
The beauty of networking events is that they bring people together who all have different experiences. While they might work in the same department, every individual has a unique perspective to bring to the table, meaning these events provide a great opportunity to enhance professional skills and inspire upward movement.
Networking events can also facilitate skill development if hands-on activities and real-world problem-solving scenarios are utilized. Through workshops and breakout sessions, participants can apply new concepts in a practical setting. These interactive sessions help attendees enhance their technical skills, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
Moreover, the collaborative nature of these activities encourages the exchange of diverse perspectives, stimulating a deeper understanding of complex issues and promoting creative solutions.
In addition to technical skills, networking events are crucial for developing soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, and leadership. Engaging with a diverse group of professionals in a social setting challenges individuals to articulate their ideas clearly, listen actively, and build rapport with others. These interactions boost confidence and improve interpersonal skills, which are essential for career advancement and effective teamwork.
While networking events cultivate workplace cultures and build on technical skills, they also promote deeper connections between employees. We’ve already mentioned how networking activities promote team building, but these activities serve an additional purpose: to promote engagement, boost morale, and improve collaboration.
When individuals participate in well-organized networking activities, they often leave with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and motivation. The opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals to share experiences and gain new insights can be incredibly energizing, leading to a more positive outlook on work and professional development. Through networking activities, attendees are given a chance to build meaningful connections with peers, mentors, or potential collaborators. These relationships often extend beyond the event itself.
Regular follow-ups, continued conversations, and collaborative projects keep the momentum going, ensuring that the positive experiences and knowledge gained during the event translate to ongoing professional growth.
Networking events can miss the mark if not executed properly. With careful planning and strategic use of technology, you’ll be able to host a networking event that not only promotes engagement but also allows attendees to walk away with improved skills and connections.
Strategic planning ensures that resources – time, budget, and personnel – are allocated efficiently. By mapping out each phase of the event, planners can anticipate and mitigate potential challenges, allocate appropriate budgets for different activities, and ensure that the right team members are handling specific tasks. This organized approach reduces the risk of last-minute problems and ensures a smooth execution, resulting in a positive experience among participants.
Plus, the right strategy also contributes to effective program design, which might include scheduled breaks, facilitated group discussions, or specific networking activities like speed networking or roundtable sessions. By structuring these opportunities thoughtfully, planners can ensure that attendees have plenty of chances to connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships.
Event technology is designed not only to make events easier to host through tools like centralized event management software (EMS), but it can also provide insights into meetings throughout all stages of the event lifecycle. For corporate networking events, these tools can transform activities into exciting experiences.
Attendees are more engaged in networking events that utilize strategic technology. For example, using event tech, guests can be paired with other attendees for activities based on information provided in attendee profiles on mobile event apps, whether it be job roles, demographic information, or personal interests. With these strategic pairings, guests can develop connections with peers whom they might not have spoken with otherwise.
In our experience, the most successful events are those that include features that attendees want to see. This means taking the feedback received from previous events and incorporating those elements into future plans or polling your potential guests prior to the event to understand their expectations.
By using the information gathered post-event or by surveying attendees before a meeting, planners can provide more meaningful experiences that resonate with the audience. And when guests see activities that are interesting to them, they’re more likely to participate.
When it comes to networking events and activities, this quickly turns into a snowball effect. Those who attend activities that meet their expectations are more likely to be highly engaged. As a result, the skills and information learned are going to resonate more deeply and translate into their professional lives, resulting in more productive and motivated employees. When employees are performing at their best, businesses naturally see a boost in profitability.
Successful networking events not only bring people together to build relationships, but they also provide value on a broader scope. Meeting new people means sharing ideas and unique perspectives on topics that are important within an industry. Whether that’s insightful tips, industry-related updates, or problem-solving, these events are sure to give a boost to professional development and business success.
If you’re interested in planning a networking event or including networking activities at your next corporate event, you can turn to the expert planners at Bishop-McCann! Our team uses the latest in event technology and event trends to boost audience engagement, so attendees leave with new skills and ideas.
Connect with an event planner today to get started!