Networking In A Virtual World

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

You don’t need to attend awkward networking events to build connections. Here are 10 ways to network online (from your couch) to land your dream job, mentorship or just to stay in touch: 1. Start with warm calls, not cold DMs Reaching out to strangers is intimidating. So, begin with people you already admire or respect: past colleagues, old classmates, mentors, or anyone you’ve gotten value from. Reach out, share your goals, ask for advice, or simply reconnect. — 2. Build (or join) a 3-6 person mastermind Invite people you admire to check in monthly or quarterly. Ask 3 simple questions in each meeting: • What’s your biggest win? • What’s your biggest challenge? • How can we help each other? This becomes your personal board of advisors, and their networks become yours, too. — 3. Make intros within your own network Instead of always trying to add new people, try connecting two people you already know. It builds goodwill, and often sparks reciprocity. Some of my best opportunities came from introductions I made first. — 4. Be the tortoise, not the hare Strong networks aren’t built in a week. They come from consistency, trust, and staying top of mind. Check in. Celebrate small wins. Be helpful, even without asking for anything.  — 5. Send snail mail Want to stand out in a sea of LinkedIn messages? Send a handwritten card or even a fun comic with a note. The person will always remember your “extra” effort. — 6. Elevate the interaction • Only chatted with someone online? Try a call. • Had a few calls? Try a Zoom meeting. • Know them over Zoom? Meet up in person. Each upgrade strengthens the connection. — 7. Pick one platform to dominate Instead of being everywhere, go deep somewhere. For example, if it’s LinkedIn: • Endorse people • Write thoughtful comments • Share niche insights your network actually values   This depth pays off more than shallow visibility. — 8. Curate, don’t just connect Curate the best insights, tools, or articles in your niche, and share them regularly. You’ll become a trusted source people keep coming back or referring to. — 9. Do something fun together Shared activities build bonds. This could be as simple as playing a game, joining a sweepstakes, or co-hosting a webinar.  People remember who made them feel something. — 10. Swipe right (yes, really) Apps like Shapr or Invitly are designed for warm outreach — you match with people who want to meet others. It’s cold networking without the awkwardness. Networking isn’t about pitching. It’s about planting seeds. Start with one person. Reach out. Reconnect.  Then keep showing up, helping others, and making connections that count.

The 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind' Trap: How to Conquer the Distance Google is a global company with offices all over the world, and while this diversity is a strength, it also presents unique challenges for communication and collaboration. Especially when your key stakeholders and decision-makers are continents away! Those hallway conversations, spontaneous coffee chats, and quick desk drop-bys that teams at HQ take for granted? Yeah, those aren't happening when you're separated by oceans and time zones. And that can lead to a disconnect. Your team's amazing work might get overlooked, your challenges might go unnoticed, and your stakeholders might feel out of the loop. But fear not, fellow remote leads! Here are a few strategies I've learned along the way: ‣ Tailor your communication approach: Every leader has their preferred communication style. Some love detailed reports, others prefer concise bullet points, and some just want the TL;DR. It's your job to adapt and deliver information in the way they'll best receive it. ‣ Embrace Radical Transparency: The worst thing that can happen is your leadership feeling blindsided by a problem or a missed deadline. Over-communicate! Share updates regularly, highlight both wins and challenges, and don't be afraid to ask for help when needed. ‣ Educate Your Leads: Help them understand the unique challenges of leading a remote team in a different location. Explain why you might need more proactive communication or different approaches to stay connected and aligned. ‣ Build Relationships Beyond Email: Travel when possible. Occasional visits to the main office can be invaluable for building relationships and understanding the nuances of the company culture. ‣ Celebrate Wins: Make sure your stakeholders are aware of your team's accomplishments, both big and small. This reinforces the value of your team and keeps them top-of-mind. ‣ Iterate and Improve: What works for one lead might not work for another. Experiment with different communication styles, ask for feedback, and continuously refine your approach. Leading a local team in a remote site requires extra effort and intention. By mastering the art of communication and building strong relationships with your stakeholders, you can ensure your team's success, no matter where you are in the world! What are your favorite tips for leading remote teams across continents? Share your insights in the comments! 👇 #RemoteLeadership #Communication #TechLeadership #lifeAtGoogle

Remote work challenge: How do you build a connected culture when teams are miles apart? At Bunny Studio we’ve discovered that intentional connection is the foundation of our remote culture. This means consistently reinforcing our values while creating spaces where every team member feels seen and valued. Four initiatives that have transformed our remote culture: 🔸 Weekly Town Halls where teams showcase their impact, creating visibility across departments. 🔸 Digital Recognition through our dedicated Slack “kudos” channel, celebrating wins both big and small. 🔸 Random Coffee Connections via Donut, pairing colleagues for 15-minute conversations that break down silos. 🔸 Strategic Bonding Events that pull us away from routines to build genuine connections. Beyond these programs, we’ve learned two critical lessons: 1. Hiring people who thrive in collaborative environments is non-negotiable. 2. Avoiding rigid specialization prevents isolation and encourages cross-functional thinking. The strongest organizational cultures aren’t imposed from above—they’re co-created by everyone. In a remote environment, this co-creation requires deliberate, consistent effort. 🤝 What’s working in your remote culture? I’d love to hear your strategies.

Your colleagues are not your friends. Do your job. Get paid. Go home. I completely agree with this… If you want work to be a place of cold isolation that may eventually impact your wellbeing and productivity. Some of my oldest friends today, are people I worked with, from bosses to peers and even external collaborators (vendors & suppliers). And they made work better, happier, more engaging and satisfying for me. Humans by nature are communal creatures; we need to connect with others, feel part of the group. If you think about it, all the levels in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs are essentially about human connection; physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualisation all require human connection with others. In the past it was easier to create friendships at work because you saw people and interacted with them daily. Today, with remote and hybrid work, it’s a little harder but still doable. Here are some tips on building relationships with colleagues even when you rarely see them physically: 📌 Make the Effort: If you want to build relationships at work, you have to be intentional about it; reach out, communicate, interact, participate. 📌 Offer Value & Build Trust: As selfish as this may sound, people gravitate towards those who add value to their lives. And since value is subjective, start by being generally optimistic, positive, friendly and willing to be helpful. Make sure to follow through on promises. Consistency and reliability are important for building trust 📌 Use the Tech: Most of today’s workplace interactions happen with the use of technology; emails, instant messaging, video conferencing, etc. Use them. Don’t wait for a time when you can interact physically. 📌 Communicate Effectively: Because it’s harder to connect virtually than physically for most people, you’ve got to communicate more often and leave no room for ambiguity as virtual communication can be open to interpretation (and misinterpretation). 📌 Virtual Socials: Don’t limit workplace interactions to work stuff. Share personal interests and hobbies to find mutual interests you can bond over. I love the idea of a pyjama coffee meeting or virtual lunches with colleagues. Who doesn’t relax while drinking a beverage? Or in PJs? 📌 Celebrate Colleagues: Celebrate your colleagues’ achievements or milestones, professional and personal. Even small gestures of recognition go a long way in relationship-building. Building relationships in a remote work environment requires being proactive, patient, and empathetic. By actively engaging with your colleagues using remote tools, and finding ways to connect beyond work stuff, you can create strong and lasting professional relationships, even when you rarely meet in person. Do you believe in work-friends? How do you build and maintain friendships with remote colleagues? #LinkedInNewsEurope

Trust isn’t built with policies; it’s built with connection — even from a distance. Managing a remote team comes with its unique challenges. You don’t have the luxury of quick chats by the water cooler or those spontaneous moments that build camaraderie. Instead, trust becomes the foundation of everything. Because without it, nothing else can truly work. At Omni Digital, we’ve applied the same principles we use for our clients’ campaigns internally - building processes, systems, and culture that allow a distributed team to work seamlessly and achieve real results. In fact, the same focus on communication and trust that we use internally has helped us scale ad campaigns for clients, optimize creative strategies, and generate measurable growth across multiple industries. For us, building trust didn’t just mean setting clear goals and checking in regularly. It meant creating a space where team members felt seen, heard, and valued, even when we were all working from different parts of the world. One of the ways we do this is through something that’s been crucial to our success: team bonding. Months ago, we decided to invest in a self-funded team-building trip to Malaysia. No one was forced to go; everyone volunteered because they understood the power of coming together as a team outside of Zoom calls. It was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Here’s a picture from that trip. In a way, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come — not just as colleagues, but as a team that has built trust over time, through shared experiences and mutual respect. When your team isn’t physically together every day, you can’t take trust for granted. It’s something that requires intentional effort. Here’s how we build it: 1.Open Communication: We make time for honest conversations, not just about work, but about how we’re feeling, what challenges we’re facing, and what drives us. 2.Empathy and Support: When you’re remote, empathy goes a long way. It’s about understanding personal lives and showing up for each other. 3.Shared Experiences: Whether it's a trip to Malaysia or a virtual coffee chat, creating moments where people can connect on a personal level strengthens the bond. Ultimately, building trust in a remote team comes down to one thing: intentionality. The more effort you put into connecting on a human level, the stronger the trust becomes. 👉 What’s worked for you in building trust with your team? How do you ensure everyone feels connected? At Omni Digital, trust is our backbone — and we’re proud to have a team that believes in each other, no matter the distance.

Getting ready to speak at the 14th UNESCO Youth Forum in Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 As I prepare to step onto this stage, I'm reflecting on how I went from having zero international network to being invited to speak at global forums like this. The answer? Strategic networking. Not the transactional kind—the authentic kind. Here are 5 networking principles that changed everything for me: 1️⃣ Lead with curiosity, not your CV Early in my career, I'd meet someone and immediately start listing my achievements. Cringe. Now? I ask questions. "What brought you here?" "What are you working on?" People remember how you made them feel, not your resume. 2️⃣ Follow up within 24 hours (with value) After meeting someone, I send a message within 24 hours. But I don't just say "nice to meet you." I reference something specific we discussed OR share a resource that might help them. This is how I built relationships with mentors at the UN, Harvard, and beyond. 3️⃣ Network for others, not just yourself When I meet someone, I think: "Who in MY network would benefit from knowing them?" Then I make the introduction. You become a connector, not a taker. And people remember you for it. 4️⃣ Quality over quantity At events like this UNESCO Forum, it's tempting to collect 50 business cards. But I'd rather have 5 deep conversations than 50 shallow ones. Focus on people you genuinely connect with. Those relationships last. 5️⃣ Show up consistently (online AND offline) Networking isn't just at fancy events. I network every day by engaging on LinkedIn, commenting on people's work, sharing their achievements. When you finally meet in person, it's not the first time they've seen your name. About to walk into a room full of global leaders and young changemakers. These 5 principles got me here. They'll work for you too. What's your best networking tip? Drop it in the comments 👇 #Networking #CareerAdvice #UNESCO #YouthLeadership #unitednations

As an introvert, the thought of large professional gatherings can be overwhelming. However, you know that networking is crucial for career growth and professional success. One strategy that has worked for me is leveraging online platforms to build meaningful connections. Sites like LinkedIn allow for thoughtful engagement without the immediate pressure of in-person events, making it easier for introverts to connect and engage. By creating and sharing content, you can attract connections naturally. Platforms like Medium, YouTube, GitHub, and X also offer great opportunities to expand your reach and showcase your expertise. Start by joining online communities related to your field and contributing valuable insights. This approach not only helps you build your network but also positions you as a thought leader in your industry. Online networking allows you to take your time crafting messages and engaging in conversations at your own pace. It breaks down the barriers to the hardest part of networking: meeting a large volume of people. For introverts, this method is more manageable and comfortable, opening doors to new opportunities and meaningful relationships. Do you consider yourself an introvert? If so, how have you thought about effectively networking? #Networking #Introvert #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

80% of jobs are never posted online. So why are you still applying like everyone else? Most networking advice is outdated and ineffective. Most advice tells you to: ❌ Go to networking events. ❌ Send cold messages. ❌ Ask for favors right away. But here’s what actually works: [1] Give Before You Take Most people approach networking with a “What can I get?” mindset. The best networkers flip it: → Comment on their posts. → Share their work. → Offer insights before ever asking for anything. What to do: Add value before expecting value. [2] Go Beyond "Hi, Let’s Connect" If your entire message is just a connection request, you’re getting ignored. What to do: Reference something they’ve written, a project they worked on, or a shared interest. [3] Don’t Just Network When You Need Something People can tell when you're only reaching out because you're job hunting. What to do: Build relationships before you need them. Stay engaged over time. [4] Follow Up (Without Being Annoying) Most people connect once and disappear. Big mistake. What to do: Follow up with a simple message: “Hey, I came across this article and thought of you. Hope you’re doing well!” [5] Be in the Right Rooms Networking isn’t just about quantity, it’s about quality. What to do: Engage in industry-specific groups and communities where opportunities actually happen. [6] Be a Connector, Not Just a Contact Want to be remembered? Introduce people who could benefit from knowing each other. What to do: If you know two people who could collaborate, make an introduction. It positions you as someone valuable to know Networking isn’t about who you know. It’s about who remembers you when an opportunity arises. What’s the best networking advice you’ve ever received? Let’s discuss in the comments. Follow Priyank Ahuja for more career growth insights. LinkedIn News India LinkedIn Guide to Creating

The one thing I’ve learnt building remote teams at Mobility Infotech: It wasn’t the technology. It wasn’t the market. It was creating genuine connection. In an office, it’s easier. You notice when someone’s having a tough day. But remotely? Just faces in boxes, going through the motions. Some days, I’d sit at my screen wondering: Do my team members even know each other? Are we working together or simply alongside one another? If you’ve worked in a remote team, you’ve likely felt this too. Here’s what changed everything for us: I began ending each team call with one question: “Before we log off, what’s one thing you want me to know about your world right now?” At first, silence. Then someone shared. Then another. And another. One said, “My cat’s been my only company for weeks.” Another said, “I’m worried about my parents back home.” And one smiled and said, “I love working from my tiny balcony.” That simple check-in became a weekly ritual. We called it Real Talk Fridays. From that point, everything shifted. Our Slack chats became more human. Our collaboration strengthened. Our team began to feel like a team again. The key lesson: Connection isn’t about proximity. It’s about presence. When people feel seen, heard and valued, they show up wholeheartedly. No matter the distance. At Mobility Infotech, our mission is to bridge gaps of connectivity between systems, between people and between where we are and where we want to go. P.S. Today, message a teammate something real. Not about work, about them. You might be surprised by what comes back.