Intentional Networking: 3 considerations for a networking workshop that works

A two-panel cartoon of a leader who is excited about a networking event, and an employee who feels they are a waste of time.

"We need something to do at our offsite company retreat for 2 hours, let's do a networking event!"
- Leadership, trying to “do the right thing” 
"Ugh, I hate going to these networking events. They are such a waste of time."
-Employees, when forced into company-mandated networking

The Purpose
No matter the industry, a request to design a networking event will often land on the desks of learning and development leaders. While creating a networking workshop may not be learning or development in the strictest sense, these events should be treated as opportunities to build value within an organization. We just need to look beyond the surface level of "snacks and trust falls" and find out what really matters to the humans we are designing for.

Use Case and Instructions

In jobs both past and present, I have taken the opportunity to design experiences with a networking-forward approach. As a regular host of the ATD-Puget Sound networking event, and as someone who has worked with over 1,000 volunteer leaders from 30 countries, I have discovered several best practices for creating events with the explicit purpose of networking.

If you have never planned a networking event and feel unsure where to start, here are three tips to keep in mind.

1. Start with the End in Mind

Consider the scenario above—why do employees feel like networking is a waste of time? It could be because they hate everyone they work with and the human race in general... But more often, it's because they feel like they aren't getting any "real" work done.

So how can you help them feel differently? Start by digging deeper into the organizational goals when planning this event. Ask your leaders: What problems are people trying to solve? What expertise could they share?

In practice, this often means choosing the goal (such as ‘develop relationships with departments who regularly work together’) long before choosing an activity (“We’re going to do an activity with tent poles and string!) 

2. Structure the Time

Whether you are facilitating the event yourself or designing for someone else to facilitate, make sure you have a clear vision of the timing. Structured time does not look like "Let all play a game for 2 hours, because that will help people relax!”

Structuring time means building a scaffolding that allows people to ask and answer easy questions first, then delve deeper as they become more comfortable.

It also means allowing for flexibility. If the whole room is really engaged with a question, have the confidence as a facilitator to give them more time, and know your materials well enough to make up time later.
Just don't, for the love of Pete, end late. That will test the patience of even the most extroverted folks in the room.

3. Find the line between “fun” and “intention” New connections are built around openness and transparency, and having fun is one way to do that. When mapping the flow of a networking workshop, think about your audience:

• How well do people already know each other?

• How many people will be there?

• Is the goal to have many shallow conversations with lots of people, or is the goal to build a few deep connections?

Build your design to allow room for organic conversations, but steer those conversations in a direction that will meet your goals. 

Pros
Intentionally designed networking events ensure that the event addresses real organizational needs rather than vague goals. You have the opportunity to respect participants' time by having clear boundaries and expectations, and the opportunity to create space for both planned, and unexpected, connections.

Cons
If pressed, leaders may not always be able to clearly articulate the goal of the event, and may become frustrated by the additional questions asked of them. Preparing a structured event requires significant preparation, which you may not be given time for if it is considered an ‘add on’ to your regular job. If you are new to facilitating intentional networking, you will need to build your confidence in the room.

Takeaways

Designing a networking workshop should not be considered a ‘throwaway’ task while you are planning ‘real’ Learning and Development. When done right, networking can add value to both your organization and the experiences of the employees we serve.