Don’t confuse LinkedIn engagement with building a robust professional network. While LinkedIn and other social media allow you to stay visible and engaged, genuine professional relationships are only built through deeper, more personal interactions that go beyond digital text exchanges. These deeper relationships are what lead to meaningful collaborations, trusted mentorship, and those career-changing moments when someone thinks of you for an exciting opportunity. Use LinkedIn as a foundation or starting point, but invest in building relationships that extend far beyond any digital platform.
A robust professional network can help you:
Feeling uncomfortable about networking? Try a few of these mindset shifts.
| From… | To… |
|---|---|
| "I need to impress everyone I meet." | "I want to genuinely connect with people who share my interests and values." |
| "Networking is about collecting as many contacts as possible." | "Networking is about building meaningful relationships with a smaller group of people." |
| "I should only network when I need something." | "I maintain relationships consistently, especially when I don't need anything." |
| "I'm bothering busy people with my outreach." | "Most professionals enjoy sharing their expertise and helping others grow." |
| "Networking is uncomfortable and feels fake." | "Networking is professional relationship building that helps me serve others better." |
| "I don't have anything to offer." | "I bring unique perspectives, energy, and skills that can benefit others." |
Learn more about the power of networking in this APHA webinar.