How to Expand Your Business Network Without Leaving the Office

Sure, you can get by without them-but should you? Having people to turn to for help and who support your bold projects (possibly even financially!) makes life and work significantly easier. But where and how do you find such people if you're stuck in the office 24/7? Don't worry-we've put together a guide for workaholics and introverts alike, and it's right here in this article!

"Why do I even need this?"

Let's start with the basics. The act of seeking out professional contacts-whether you're looking for a partner or just a like-minded professional-is called networking. The idea behind networking is built on the "six degrees of separation" theory, which suggests that if you take six seemingly unrelated people, the first and the sixth will likely be connected in some way, and may even have met in person. So, the more people you know, the easier-and more likely-it is that you'll connect with the person you're looking for.

To give a practical example: if you know the chief engineer at a nuclear power plant, then through roughly five connections, you could reach the owner of a tech startup, and so on.

More specifically, a broad network gives you:

• Access to expert knowledge. The more people you know, the more diverse and unique professionals you'll have access to-each with their own background and skills. Good relationships mean you can occasionally benefit from those skills!

• Greater exposure and motivation. Interacting with other professionals will naturally broaden your horizons. You'll find yourself thinking, "Wow, I didn't know that was possible!" and unconsciously learning. Other people's success is always inspiring-hence the common advice to surround yourself with those you aspire to emulate.

• New opportunities for business or employment. Nearly everyone you meet can offer something valuable to your career-maybe not right away, but eventually. Of course, you should offer something in return (at the very least, your own expertise). But the key point is: when you have a strong network, you always have an ace up your sleeve. It's nearly impossible to end up jobless or without support.

• Potential investments and partnerships. This is especially relevant for anyone dreaming of launching a startup. You never know which new acquaintance might want to invest in your idea or join your team. People often have hidden talents just waiting to be discovered.
  
  

5 Ways to Make New Connections at Your Current Workplace

Now that you know why building a network matters, let's explore how to do it when you barely have the time or resources to go anywhere beyond your workplace.

Start a professional blog

Running a blog about your professional field, projects, tips, and even failures has multiple benefits.

First, it's a great tool for building a personal brand. Instead of being just "an employee at Company X," you become "a professional named Y with experience at Company X." When you're visible online, and recognized in your niche, it's much easier to land high-paying roles or unique opportunities that others might never get. For example, you can ask for a higher salary ("You're a known expert, after all!") or be chosen to lead major projects ("Everyone's read your stories-they know you're experienced!"). In short, it boosts your authority, positioning, reputation, and professional image-assets that will serve you for years.

Second, you'll make connections-the whole point of this exercise. The more consistently and actively you blog, the more followers you'll attract. Among them, you'll inevitably find people who can be useful contacts-whether they're in your field, in related industries, or from completely different sectors (which can also be helpful-remember the six degrees of separation?).

Online communication is often easier than face-to-face. It takes less time and effort, and it can help overcome personal barriers like shyness or awkwardness. Choose your blogging platform based on your preferences and target audience. If you work in entertainment, consider YouTube. If you're an editor or journalist, Telegram might be better. Don't be afraid to mix and match platforms-or run several in parallel! You can learn more through our courses "Launch a YouTube Channel: Become a Popular Vlogger" and "Telegram 101: A Complete Guide."

Reconnect with old contacts

Over a lifetime, we meet thousands of people, but we don't maintain most of those relationships. Still, nothing's stopping you from going back to your university days and reconnecting with people you once shared lectures or smoke breaks with! These are your "dormant connections"-a kind of cold contact base that you can often reactivate into "warm" leads. These might include former colleagues, roommates, school friends, past mentors, or even old bosses.

It can be awkward to reach out to someone from your past out of the blue-especially if you no longer have their number. This is where social media comes in. Facebook and LinkedIn are especially useful. LinkedIn is entirely professional and built for networking-you can use it to add people whose skills or professions interest you. It's also great for finding new contacts, much like niche Facebook groups (e.g., "Looking for a business partner").

Once you find a former contact you'd like to reconnect with, start with casual conversation. Don't jump into business right away! Let them know you're curious about what they're up to these days, what job they have, and how life's going. Be sure to share a bit about yourself first to keep the conversation balanced. Be polite and friendly-your goal is not just to collect data but to rebuild meaningful, long-term relationships.

Attend virtual conferences and webinars

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many professional events have moved online-and most have stayed there, simply because it's convenient. You're not the only one with a packed schedule or travel limitations. Take advantage of this by attending online conferences, webinars, masterclasses, or even virtual parties in the metaverse (yes, they exist-and you can even control your avatar!).

You can find these events in industry-specific communities or news sources.

How do you network at such events? Through comments! Ask questions, engage in discussions, or use the "raise hand" feature to speak directly during sessions. You'll not only learn something new and stay current with trends, but you'll also gather valuable links and contacts for future events, people, and communities. One connection leads to another!

Don't skip office events

Let's talk about a bit of in-person effort-but still within your company and usually during work hours. Your office likely hosts corporate events that employees can attend for free. These typically fall into three categories:

• Parties and formal gatherings. These include standard corporate parties, celebratory dinners, annual competitions, company anniversaries, or professional holiday banquets. Ask your colleagues if something's coming up, and even if it's not your thing, just show up and observe. You don't have to be the life of the party.

• Industry events. These are things like in-person conferences, round tables, or "year-in-review" meetings. Networking at such events can be tricky since the schedule is usually packed, leaving little time for casual chats-but there's almost always an "after-party." That's where you should go!

• Informal industry events. These are often add-ons to formal events, but not always accessible to everyone. Sometimes, the informal segment is included in a VIP ticket-for example, a private dinner with the company CEO for a group of ten attendees. If you can get into something like this, take advantage of it!

Eat lunch outside your office

You don't have to leave the building-but you do need to leave your desk! This is a great way not just to meet new people, but also to break your routine and recharge better. Just grab your lunchbox and head to the shared dining area or sit on a bench outside the building if you're up for stepping out. You can also go to a nearby café for a business lunch and sit with familiar (or unfamiliar!) faces you'd like to connect with. Food brings people together-and offering someone a homemade treat is always a nice gesture!

A Few Tips to Network Faster and More Effectively

• Always carry business cards.

They don't need to be fancy. A simple cardboard card with your name, company, profession, phone number, and email will do. Hand it over after a brief chat, just before you part ways, saying something like, "Just in case we lose touch." Make sure they're not crumpled-carry them in a case or a firm pocket.

• Forget about deals and personal gain.

If someone senses that you're only talking to them for selfish reasons, they won't want to build a lasting connection. You wouldn't want to be treated like a tool, either. So never pitch or sell anything on a first meeting. Focus on presenting yourself-your experiences, skills, and interests. Only after some time can you explore reciprocal relationships.

Bonus tip: learn to introduce yourself with flair. "I help products blow up on the market" sounds much more compelling than "I'm a marketer." Learn more in our course "Personal Brand Basics. First Steps Towards Popularity Growth".

• Connect your contacts to each other.

Networking isn't about hoarding people. On the contrary, the more interlinked your network, the stronger it becomes. It's easier to reconnect later or even form a dream team. Introduce your contacts to one another and start building communities.

• Avoid one-word questions.

Effective networking depends on your ability to ask engaging questions. Make people want to talk to you by showing interest and giving them a chance to shine. Ask them to share their most unusual work story or recommend software they use in their field. Balance your questions with your own stories and insights.

• Focus on a specific group.

Any contact can be valuable, but sometimes you need specialists in a specific field. At large events, set priorities: is it more important to talk to the sales manager or the designer today? Don't try to meet everyone-build your network in stages.

And one last life hack: always keep at least one hand free! Gesturing helps during conversation, and if both your hands are full, you'll seem too busy or rushed to chat. Also, always ask yourself: how can I be helpful to this person? Knowing your value builds confidence-and confidence makes networking much easier.