Connecting the Dots- Expanding Your Professional Network

You never know when or where you may meet someone who will become a valuable part of your personal or professional network. While networking and referrals are a key aspect of many boards’ recruitment strategies, some directors approach networking as a way to develop board skills, access advice and resource referrals, and encounter board- or fund-related expertise that is valuable in their own boardrooms. Skill in making and developing new connections also nods toward a person’s intellectual curiosity, an attribute that many boards see as crucial for directors to exemplify.

In some cases, newly formed networking relationships are simply friendly faces that make conference experiences somewhat less awkward. Other new relationships grow into deep, mentoring friendships with regular contact. Each of these relationships, and those that fall somewhere in between, have the potential to meaningfully impact an individual’s path toward their objectives, including accessing education for their board, developing skills for leadership opportunities within the boardroom, or learning about innovative approaches to board governance. So how do you network with an eye toward durable, valuable relationships? Here are some tips from directors:

• Approach meetings and events with an open mind and curiosity. A growth mindset is an attribute that many boards seek in directors, and it extends beyond asking good questions in the boardroom. Those inquisitive skills can also expand conversations with new people to go beyond the basics. Introducing yourself to a panelist with a particular knowledge or point of view on an issue may open a path for that person to provide education at your board retreat. Connecting during a conference break with someone who brought helpful insight into a breakout discussion may yield a future director for your own board.
  

• Compare notes. When you meet someone who has a common role with you, such as holding the same committee chair role on different boards, the opportunity arises to compare approaches to common issues or problems. You may hear an idea from a peer director that is applicable in your own boardroom to improve efficiency or effectiveness in a way that you had not previously considered, especially where your board is about to do something new (such as expand into a new product offering) or something that the board has not done for a while (such as onboard new directors for the first time in 10 years).
  

• Know what you need. Maintaining a sense for where you may have curiosity, gaps in understanding, future openings on your board, or new directions for your fund or the industry can guide you toward the people who have the knowledge or experience you may need. If there is a topic you would like to learn more about, consider connecting when you encounter someone who has that expertise, or is involved with an organization or program that works in that area.
  

• Know what you have (and are willing) to offer. Protect your time, interests, and energy by maintaining an awareness of what is being asked of you and how you feel responding to that ask. It may be energizing to you to share your experience navigating a fund merger with a director whose board is in that process where someone else may feel energized by providing feedback on a prospective director’s resume/bio and a third person enjoys connecting people with other people, organizations, resources, or events that they enjoy. Notice where you enjoy offering assistance, and where you feel reluctant to do so.
  

• Explore topics that aren’t related to work. Discovering a shared interest, common background, or personality alignment can set up the basis for an ongoing relationship. People with whom you feel camaraderie may provide an objective, but informed, sounding board as you grapple with sticky issues, prepare for board interviews, or look for advice or resources. These sorts of connections may also have great tips on planning your next vacation, a restaurant to try in a city where your board meets, or a podcast you might enjoy.
  

The busiest part of the program season is upon us, with conferences and meetings of all sizes filling the calendar. Keep these tips in mind as you select which rooms to be in and think about how to use the time while you are there.