Networking is essential to professional growth. Through intentional relationship-building, you can uncover new opportunities, find mentors, and connect with people who broaden your perspective. Whether you’re early in your career, seeking advancement, or navigating a job search, your professional relationships can shape your trajectory.
“Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to networking,” says Harvard Business School Professor Julie Battilana in the HBS Online course Power and Influence for Positive Impact. “Instead, you want to focus on fit.”
To make the most of your network, focus on building the right connections—not just more of them. Here are six tips to help you develop your network in a way that supports your career growth.
Featured Certificate Course
Power and Influence for Positive Impact
Understand how power works and develop your own to build influence, strengthen relationships, and drive impact.
Self-Paced | 6 Modules | 4-8 Hours per Module | $1,949
Tips for Growing Your Network
1. Assess and Strengthen Your Current Network
Before expanding your network, understand the one you already have.
Consider the people you rely on in your professional life. To get started:
Make a list of colleagues, former co-workers, and industry peers
Review your LinkedIn connections to remind yourself who’s there
Reflect on previous roles, internships, and academic or professional development programs, where you met peers and advisors
Consider who's supported you at different career stages
You may rediscover relationships that can be rekindled with a simple message or check-in. An audit can help you identify:
Which connections are strongest?
Which connections need development?
Are any key relationships missing?
2. Establish and Maintain Your Online Presence
Help others learn about your experience by establishing an online presence through a website, portfolio, or social media. It can be as simple as creating a LinkedIn profile—the social networking site 95 percent of recruiters use to find job candidates.
When setting up your LinkedIn profile, ensure you:
Upload a professional photo with a simple background that makes you the focal point
Create a compelling headline that speaks directly to your audience and specialty
Detail all relevant work experience and quantify your accomplishments in each role
Add links to relevant work, such as your online portfolio or a company blog, which can help highlight and support your experience
Incorporate skills you want recruiters to associate you with when searching LinkedIn, such as “financial analyst,” “innovation,” or “marketing strategy”
Fill out as many relevant profile sections as possible, from your “Volunteer Experience” to “Accomplishments”
As your career evolves, update your profile to reflect new experiences.
3. Join Relevant Communities
Networking doesn’t only happen at work. Consider expanding your reach through alumni networks, professional associations, industry events, and virtual communities.
Joining groups aligned with your interests exposes you to new perspectives and valuable connections. For example, the HBS Online Community enables online learners and other business-minded professionals to connect globally in several ways, including:
Chapter events: The HBS Online Community has over 30 Chapters worldwide. Consider joining your closest one, the Global Chapter, or an industry-based group to find and attend virtual and in-person networking events. HBS Online past participants also gain exclusive access to Connext, an annual conference focused on learning, networking, and inspiration.
Discussion boards: By joining a Chapter, you’ll gain access to discussion boards where you can share updates, ask and answer questions, and post polls.
Direct messaging: Connect with fellow learners about their learning experience, job opportunities, or relevant industry insights.
Professional profiles: Consider adding a photo and social media channels links to your profile. Sharing more about yourself makes it easier to connect.
Exclusive networking groups: If you complete an HBS Online course, program, or Learning Track, you’ll be added to the Official HBS Online Networking Group.
Community Challenges: HBS Online annually partners with a nonprofit to host a Community Challenge that empowers learners to solve pressing business challenges.
4. Cultivate Diverse Relationships
Great leaders genuinely care about people and demonstrate authentic interest in getting to know the person, not the connection. And, as Battilana explains in Power and Influence for Positive Impact, diverse networks can significantly expand the opportunities and ideas we’re exposed to.
“A broad network gives all of us exposure to many kinds of knowledge, opportunities, and insights that can broaden our views, help us be more innovative, and fulfill our aspirations,” Battilana says in Power and Influence for Positive Impact. “But most of us don't have very diverse networks. The problem is that we tend to associate and bond with similar people. We all must work to overcome these hurdles, recognize the value of cultivating relationships with those who differ from us, and build networks with high levels of breadth."
Putting this into action requires intentionally expanding your circle beyond familiar peers. Seek out individuals from different industries, functions, backgrounds, and perspectives. These relationships can challenge your assumptions, spark innovative ideas, and open new doors.
Is there a department in your organization you want to learn more about? Ask your team, direct report, or supervisor if they know anyone who would be willing to talk about their work.
Does your friend from graduate school work in an industry you're intrigued by? Ask them to connect you with a colleague for an informational interview. Meet with people just to talk about what they do and genuinely, actively listen.
Come prepared with questions. You might consider asking:
What projects are you working on right now that you're excited about?
How did you get started in this department?
How would you describe your professional journey?
As your network expands, the next step is ensuring those relationships create value for everyone involved.
5. Bring Shared Value to Your Network
As your network grows, focus on creating shared value. Don’t be afraid to ask your network for help. Research shows that people who seek advice appear more competent and encourage knowledge sharing.
At the same time, effective networking is built on mutual value, not one-sided requests. As Battilana explains, networking doesn’t have to be transactional.
“Of course, not all of us love the idea of networking,” Battilana says in Power and Influence for Positive Impact. “But as we discovered, while networking can be a manipulative activity, it doesn't have to be.”
In Power and Influence for Positive Impact, Battilana suggests finding ways to bring shared value to your network: “By pursuing relationships in a way that feels authentic to us and that's aligned to a higher purpose—and by developing relationships that aren't only about taking but that are also about giving, learning, and enabling others to learn—we can approach networking in a genuine and ethical way.”
Identifying your personal value proposition is a first step in clarifying the value you bring. The HBS Online course Personal Branding offers in-depth guidance on how to develop your personal brand.
“Your personal value proposition describes for a particular audience: how you will make a difference, why you are especially equipped to make this difference, and what evidence you have to support that assertion,” says HBS Professor Jill Avery in Personal Branding. “This strategic statement encapsulates the promise of differentiated value that you, as an individual, bring.”
Featured Certificate Course
Personal Branding
Develop the tools to define and express your purpose, values, and points of differentiation and make your personal brand your competitive edge.
Start Anytime | 3 Modules | 2-4 Hours per Module | $1,949
In practice, this means approaching networking with a contribution mindset. Ask how you can support others, share relevant insights, or connect people who may benefit from knowing each other. Over time, these small acts of generosity strengthen relationships and position you as a thoughtful, trusted connection.
6. Follow Up Consistently
Establishing connections is just the beginning. Maintaining them is what matters.
Set aside time every month or two to reconnect with your contacts. Share an article that reminded you of them. Say congratulations if you spot exciting news about their company, or if they recently started a new job or took on additional responsibilities. Small gestures help sustain relationships.
Free E-Book
Your Guide to Online Learning Success
If you’re interested in exploring online education but aren’t sure where to start, this guide is for you.
The Value of Networking
Prioritizing relationship-building can advance your career and help others do the same. A quick conversation or new connection could be what helps land your next job or encourages you to ask for a raise.
But it starts with introducing yourself.
Are you interested in learning more about how you can develop your network and advance your career? Explore our online course catalog to find programs designed to fuel your professional growth. You can also check out our other career development content for helpful tips and download our free guide to online learning.
This post was updated on March 17, 2026. It was originally published on February 19, 2019.