“Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities,” – Michele Jennae.

Fostering meaningful relationships and connections places you in a position to open the door to new opportunities. Additionally, is allow you to gain valuable insights and provide you opportunities to grow yourself beyond your day-to-day activities. Networking is going to expose you to diverse perspectives, ideas, and even cultures, which benefit the growth many are seeking in their specific line of work. 

When considering the value of networking in your personal and professional life, consider the following: 

1. You are giving yourself access to new opportunities. Networking provides a wide range of opportunities, beyond just job openings or internships. It allows you to develop potential mentorship with other professionals, increasing your visibility, which can present new opportunities that you otherwise may have not knew existed. 
2. You open yourself to knowledge and insights beyond what you already know and experience. When you connect with other professionals who have been in the workplace longer, you can gain valuable insights and advice that could help you better understand and navigate your current career path. 
3. You can expose yourself to career advancement opportunities and professional development. Embracing relationships with others could place you in a position as you navigate open doors to promotions and leadership opportunities. 
4. You place yourself in a position to build confidence and communication skills. Because networking requires effective communication and interpersonal skills, networking essentially allows you to grow in those areas as well. Consistency in these areas places you in a position to better articulate your ideas to others. 

Networking will empower you to make connections with others, exposing you to more opportunities to grow and lean back into your own community as well. Find ways to network this next season!