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Five Minute Favor – Network maintenance is that easy

Networking is like your own neighborhood: you know each other, you help each other.

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Five Minute Favor – Network maintenance is that easy

Networking is like your own neighborhood: you know each other, you help each other. But unlike on your own street, where people run into each other almost every day and exchange the latest local gossip, maintaining a network at work is hard work. There is often a lack of occasions to casually exchange news and simply ask how the other person is doing.

The top priority is: A good network needs to be maintained. Only then will it help to fill open positions in the company more easily, to find a supplier with better conditions, to land a new job or a lucrative contract.

Nevertheless, only one in three Germans actively networks, according to a survey by the office supplies specialist Viking. Those surveyed prefer to maintain their contacts at conferences, on career networks such as LinkedIn or Xing and at events that they attend with colleagues. No matter where and how the contact is made – the same applies to networking as to friendship: regular messages and calls, even without a reason, maintain the relationship. And that can also be done with a few tricks.

If you only get in touch when you want something, you have a bad hand. "People who have orders to place, for example, want to be noticed and valued for their own sake," says business coach Monika Scheddin. "That's why networking without a specific reason is so popular. Nobody wants to feel like prey.” Anyone who knows what is on their contacts' minds or who regularly inquires about how the family is doing will have a direct starting point in the next conversation.

It's important not to feign interest: "I wouldn't ask anything that doesn't genuinely interest me," says Scheddin. But even if there is interest in the other person, the inhibition threshold to get in touch after a long time often remains high. Even then, according to the management expert, it's worth making a call: "Both sides often have a bad conscience because they haven't heard from each other for a long time." Anyone who calls "just because" should own up to it. Scheddin doesn't believe in simply thinking up a reason to call: "Anyone who invents occasions needs a good memory. And lies have short legs.”

An unannounced phone call on a Friday afternoon doesn't meet with everyone's approval. This is also part of the information you should have about your contacts. How does the former colleague prefer to communicate? When does the manager from the other department have their day off? You can either find out by trying it out or ask directly.

In addition, you should think about the choice of communication tool. "For some, a messenger message works better than a call," says networking expert Martina Haas. When making a phone call, she advises asking at the beginning whether it suits the person.

Career networks like LinkedIn can also be a suitable channel for casual network maintenance: The supplier has just shared an exciting article? A great conversation template. “Anyone who regularly writes articles themselves creates opportunities for discussion in their network,” says networking expert Haas.

The best way to do this is to call on your network to interact directly in your own post: How do you see that? Has this ever happened to you? Career networks are also suitable for following up after getting to know each other for the first time. Haas advises anyone who has met at a trade fair and gotten along well to get on with it as soon as possible: "For example, a private message on LinkedIn or an e-mail is suitable for this." Possible content: "Thanks for the great conversation. I would be happy if we could continue our exchange over coffee.”

Integrating calls and the like into everyday life helps to ensure that networks don't get the 'must have' character. Network maintenance does not have to be a fixed date in the calendar. On the contrary: "Anyone who goes for a walk can use the time to call a former colleague," says business coach Scheddin.

Even long car journeys are suitable for a casual call via the hands-free system. “It is important that you are in regular contact.” This is where digital helpers can help: Career platforms such as Xing and LinkedIn remind you of birthdays, for example, Outlook saves reminders and notifies you when you need to contact them again.

"The interlocutor always has an open ear? Great, then thank him for it,” advises Scheddin. So-called five-minute favors are also popular: For example, if you have read an exciting article that might interest a colleague in another department, you should forward it directly. Or if you watch the film in the cinema in the evening that the customer reported about last week, you could send a short messenger message.

Regular discussions pay off here: those who know their network know exactly which information or which contact could be valuable for the other person. You should also keep in mind that mutual support should be balanced as far as possible. “Women in particular tend to give more than they take,” says Scheddin. She recommends: be more offensive. This works, for example, with tips such as: If you read something interesting on the subject of timekeeping, please think of me. Or: If you meet someone who is good at programming, please let me know.

Nobody wants to impose themselves. But often the exact opposite is the case: "Most of them are rather reserved," says Scheddin. "People worry too much about what they should say or what others might think." According to the expert, if you want to network casually, you should simply get in touch with the others without fearing a rejection: "Of course it is Risk, but it usually pays off.”

If the other person never picks up the phone and doesn't call you back, ignores e-mails and messages - you have to accept that there is no interest, says Martina Hass: "Then it's too much of a good thing." healthy dose of self-confidence. This is especially true for young people: "They often think they don't have anything to offer others yet," says Haas. Far from it, because the youngsters sometimes score with innovative approaches, clever questions and new perspectives.

"Everything on shares" is the daily stock exchange shot from the WELT business editorial team. Every morning from 7 a.m. with our financial journalists. For stock market experts and beginners. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music and Deezer. Or directly via RSS feed.

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