It's a Friday afternoon and I'm actively procrastinating, so here goes: Everything I've Learned about Networking in a Virtual World. A thread from an introvert's perspective. (1/)

I have a lot of conversations with students and young professionals starting out in #water, #sustainability, and #SciComm. From my admittedly unscientific sampling, #networking is a word that tends to carry negative associations. (2/)

Here's my reframe. Networking is an intentional process, focused not just on building connections, but on building the right connections. Successful networking means finding supporters, advocates, and even friends who will stay with you for the long term. (3/)

For me personally, I see networking as an opportunity to meet inspiring people, learn about their work, and expand my perspective of the space I'm in (or interested in).

So, with that, here are a few tips for networking in a virtual world. (4/)

1. Be intentional about your networking. As an introvert, going to networking events (in person or virtual) is draining. I'd much rather reach out to people who I know are doing work that inspires me and can share relevant advice and perspectives. (5/)

2. Always personalize your ask. Whether you're being introduced to a potential connection or reaching out to them directly, make the *why* clear. Why are you specifically interested in their perspective? What are you hoping to get out of the connection? (6/)

3. Where do you find new connections? In my experience, introductions are best (2nd connections on LinkedIn are a great tool for this). Shared groups/networks are next on the list (e.g. alumni groups), followed by events (e.g. online workshops), and finally cold connections. (7/)

Again, always provide context! Especially if you're reaching out via email/phone/LinkedIn to someone you've never met, make it very clear why you're reaching out to that person specifically. That means no blank Linkedin invites! (8/)

4. Choose whether your main goal is to build a relationship or make an ask. This is an important one for me. I find it hard to genuinely listen and engage if I know I'm asking for a job or sale. In my experience, building relationships is always more valuable in the long run (9/)

5. You won't hear back from everyone, but that's ok! I've been doing this for a while, and I still find that at least half the people I reach out to don't reply. That said, the people who do reply are self-selecting as being interested in connecting and willing to support. (10/)

Almost done! 6. Take care of the admin. That means sorting out the scheduling, sending a calendar invite, etc. Also avoid video calls unless they're necessary. In a virtual world, it's a gift to not have to be on camera for yet another meeting. (11/)

Finally, 7. Always follow up! Whether it's a quick thank you email, a reminder around any next steps discussed, or a longer appreciation note, a follow-up message helps busy folks have something to refer back to. (12/)

And keep following up! Most weeks, I have several phone calls with students and young professionals. Many of them I never hear from again. Which is such a missed opportunity! I love hearing updates, and I'm usually happy to jump on another call a few months later. (13/)

That concludes my musings for today (mostly because it's 4pm in Vancouver and I still have a report to write). If you have more networking questions, feel free to tweet them my way. Otherwise, have a lovely weekend! (14/14)