The Best Way To Network That Never Fails|4 Tips To Get You Started

Who you know or don’t know can be a great asset or liability.

In August 2011, Dr Yaw Perbi visited our church for a few days to preach and train leaders.

The church administration appointed me his personal assistant. I carried his bag, helped organize our team for his engagements and enjoyed his leadership training and preaching. Before he went back to Canada, he shared with me some leadership materials and his email.

Because I am passionate about leadership as he is, I kept in touch and with time he saw a leader in me and appointed me The HuD Group CEO for Uganda.

Through him, I’ve travelled to countries I had never been to and he has exposed me to great resources I’d have not accessed at that time. He has mentored me and even paid courses for me to become a Certified Professional Coach, Accredited Behavioural Consultant and also a DISC Coach.

I didn’t know all that would come my way through him when we first met but God had me in mind when He brought him to Uganda.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines networking as “the activity of meeting people who might be useful to know, especially in your job.”

For many people, networking is a pathway to getting what they want but I see it as an opportunity of helping others get what they need first.

Networking starts with cultivating a servant attitude – the willingness to serve others whether or not we get something in return. Those who apply themselves to serve others with the pure motive of loving their neighbour are the happiest and most fulfilled people among us.

Networking is not about the number of friends you have in your phone book, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or wallet as business cards but the quality of your relationship with them.

The best way to network that never fades or fails is to touch the heart of others. Focus on what you can do for others not what they can do for you. That’s why Jesus said, do good and don’t let even your left hand know about it. Do good and forget about it. Don’t keep count because God has already noted it and will reward you in His way and His time.

I’ve seen God bring people I needed in the right season of my life. Sometimes those I intentionally sought to help me didn’t assist. When I look back, the people who have touched my life the most are those God connected me to while I served.

For instance, while I served at United Faith Chapel at university, I needed a computer and The Ironside family from the US, on a missionary trip to Uganda, gave me a desktop. That’s how I began typing a novel I’d handwritten in high school. It also helped while editing the Campus Glory magazine and I began writing articles. That desktop played a big role in the writer I am today.

4 Tips To Get You Started On Networking

#1: Be Good At Something

When you have a skill, use it to solve people’s challenges. Give your time and resources to serve even when there is no pay or immediate return.

Your talent, gift or skill will open doors for you.

#2: Be Nice Because You’re Nice

Do good to others not to receive good back but because your identity is a servant and you’re a kind person by heart and nurture.

Check out the article on the 15 People Principles Of Valuing Others.

#3: Be Active Among Like-Minded People

Attend seminars, participate in clubs like Toastmasters, Rotary and associations of your profession. Also, volunteer for roles in church activities. In such spaces, you’ll learn and meet people to serve and God may use them to be a blessing to you.

#4: Be In Touch With Others

Take emails, phone numbers or any other contact for future reference. Say hello when you can so you won’t be the kind of person who gets in touch only when they’re stuck. Keeping in touch is a struggle for me too, but we must try.

When you’ve done all you can, never forget that it’s God who brings divine connections. Because He knows and sees the future, He causes our paths to cross with the people we’ll need ahead. That’s why we should never despise or mistreat anyone because they might be the ‘angel’ to rescue us tomorrow.

Relating With Non-Believers

Being Christians doesn’t take us out of the world. We can live and work with unbelievers without adopting their way of life. Rather than let them pull us into their way of thinking, we can show them the love of Christ, and hopefully, they’ll come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I’ve observed that some Christians demonize nonbelievers and bombard them with the gospel at every opportunity but do little in practical ways to touch their lives.

As servants, our deeds of love and service will speak volumes to non-believers. And sometimes God uses them to help us in our time of need in our businesses and careers. Bible characters like Joseph, David and Daniel found favour before foreign kings because the Lord was with them.

But we should also spend time with godly friends and not join non-believers in their evil ways like parties or ungodly deals. (Psalms 26:4&5)

Apostle Paul reminded Timothy to “…enjoy the companionship of those who call on the LORD with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22)

God warned the Israelites not to make treaties or marry the ungodly because they’d cause them to sin and worship their idols. (Exodus 23:32)

As you know, King Solomon ignored this warning and the foreign women turned his heart from God in his old age. (1 Kings 11:4)

Anytime we support wickedness and take part in it, we also share in its punishment. (Proverbs 4:14-17, Psalms 1, Ephesians 5:11)

God is jealous for us. (Exodus 34:12-14) He is not pleased when we prostitute ourselves to the idols and gods of this world like loving ungodly mammon, fleeting pleasure and unclean entertainment. He alone deserves our worship and praise forever more.

When you work, study or live among nonbelievers, pray for them, love them and be a godly example to them. You may be the vessel God uses to bring them to the knowledge of our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for reading this article. I welcome your comments and questions – as iron sharpens iron, let’s sharpen each other.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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