3 Ways To Build Your Professional Network And Make Meaningful ...
Tips and tricks of professional networking with you. We'll explore how to put yourself out there and nurture meaningful, lasting relationships.
studies show
If you want to advance in your career by building your professional network, focus on what you think you need to learn from your network in order to advance. If you approach networking from a growth mindset or “I believe I have more to learn and can grow through these experiences,” <anchor>studies show</anchor> you are more likely to be successful in networking, growth, and performing your job.
Learn to Love Networking
Learn to Love Networking

Navigation Menu

[![Harvard Business Review Home](/resources/css/images/HBR_logo_black.svg)](/)

[Subscribe](/subscriptions?ab=topbar-subtout&tpcc=houseads.site.topbar-subtout)[![Cart](/resources/css/images/cart-icon.png)](/shopping-cart)Sign In
Account Menu

Account Menu

Hi,

Guest

Search Menu

Close menu

SearchCLEAR

- SUGGESTED TOPICS

Explore HBR

- [Latest](/the-latest)
- [The Magazine](/magazine)
- [Podcasts](/podcasts)
- [Store](/store)
- [Webinars](/webinars)
- [Newsletters](/email-newsletters)

Popular Topics

- [Managing Yourself](/topic/subject/managing-yourself)
- [Leadership](/topic/subject/leadership)
- [Strategy](/topic/subject/strategy)
- [Managing Teams](/topic/subject/managing-people)
- [Gender](/topic/subject/gender)
- [Innovation](/topic/subject/innovation)
- [Work-life Balance](/topic/subject/work-life-balance)
- [All Topics](/topics)

For Subscribers

- [The Big Idea](/big-ideas)
- [Data & Visuals](/data-visuals)
- [Case Selections](/case-selections)
- [HBR Learning](/learning)
- [Subscribe](/subscriptions?ab=leftnav-subtout&tpcc=houseads.site.leftnav-subtout)

My Account

- [My Library](/my-library)
- [Topic Feeds](/my-library/topics)
- [Orders](/my-library/orders)
- [Account Settings](/my-library/settings)
- [Email Preferences](/my-library/preferences)
- [Log Out](/logout)
- Sign In

[Subscribe](/subscriptions?ab=leftnav-subtout&tpcc=houseads.site.leftnav-subtout)[Latest](/the-latest) [Podcasts](/podcasts) [The Magazine](/magazine) [Store](/store) [Webinars](/webinars) [Newsletters](/email-newsletters) [All Topics](/topics) [The Big Idea](/big-ideas) [Data & Visuals](/data-visuals) [Case Selections](/case-selections) [HBR Learning](/learning) [My Library](/my-library) [Account Settings](/my-library/settings) [Log Out](/logout)Sign In

### Your Cart

Your Shopping Cart is empty.

[Visit Our Store](/store)

Guest User

Subscriber


[My Library](/my-library/library) [Topic Feeds](/my-library/topics) [Orders](/my-library/orders) [Account Settings](/my-library/settings) [Email Preferences](/my-library/preferences) [Log Out](/logout)

Reading List

Reading Lists

![](/resources/css/images/HBR_logo_black.svg)

[Professional networks](/topic/subject/professional-networks)

# Learn to Love Networking

Even people who find it repugnant can do it effectively.


by

- [Francesca Gino,](/search?term=francesca%20gino)
- [Maryam Kouchaki,](/search?term=maryam%20kouchaki)
and - [Tiziana Casciaro](/search?term=tiziana%20casciaro)

by

- [Francesca Gino,](/search?term=francesca%20gino)
- [Maryam Kouchaki,](/search?term=maryam%20kouchaki)
and - [Tiziana Casciaro](/search?term=tiziana%20casciaro)

[From the Magazine (May 2016)](/archive-toc/BR1605)

![](/resources/images/article_assets/2016/03/R1605J_NIEMI.jpg)

Rami Niemi

- [Post](http://twitter.com/HarvardBiz)
- [Post](http://www.facebook.com/HBR)
- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review?trk=biz-companies-cym)
- Annotate

- Save

- Get PDF

- [Buy Copies](/product/learn-to-love-networking/R1605J-PDF-ENG)
- [Print](javascript:window.print();)

Summary.
“I hate networking.” It’s a familiar refrain. But in today’s world, networking is a necessity—and fortunately, an aversion to it can be overcome. Drawing on laboratory experiments and on studies at a large law firm, the authors have identified four strategies that can help people become more excited about and effective at building relationships:

1. _Focus on learning._ Adopt a “promotion mindset” and concentrate on the positives, and you’re more likely to perceive networking as an opportunity for discovery rather than a chore.
2. _Identify common interests._ Consider how your goals align with those of people you meet, and networking will feel more authentic.
3. _Think broadly about what you can give._ Remember that you have something valuable to offer, whether it’s knowledge, gratitude, or recognition.
4. _Find a higher purpose._ Frame your networking in terms of a larger goal—the collective benefits for your company, say—and the activity will feel more authentic and will lead to connections that bear fruit for everyone.

- [Post](http://twitter.com/HarvardBiz)
- [Post](http://www.facebook.com/HBR)
- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review?trk=biz-companies-cym)
- Annotate

- Save

- Get PDF

- [Buy Copies](/product/learn-to-love-networking/R1605J-PDF-ENG)
- [Print](javascript:window.print();)

“I hate networking.” We hear this all the time from executives, other professionals, and MBA students. They tell us that networking makes them feel uncomfortable and phony—even dirty. Although some people have a natural passion for it—namely, the extroverts who love and thrive on social interaction—many understandably see it as brown-nosing, exploitative, and inauthentic.

A version of this article appeared in the [May 2016](/archive-toc/BR1605) issue (pp.104–107) of _Harvard Business Review_.

New!

![](/resources/css/images/hmm/HBR-learning-icon.png)

HBR Learning

![](/resources/images/hmm/Course_Illustrations/Leveraging_Your_Networks_Course/topic_landing_page_1400.png)

Leveraging Your Networks Course

Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leveraging Your Networks. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

Map, assess, and strengthen your professional relationships.

[Start Course](/api/hmm/link?url=%2Fcontent%2Fleveraging_your_networks%2Flandingpage.html%3Futm_source%3Dhbrwebsite%26utm_medium%3Darticle-tout) [Learn More & See All Courses](/learning?ab=articlepage_hmm-landing_hmm-tout-rightrail)

Read more on [**Professional networks**](/topic/subject/professional-networks?ab=articlepage-topic)
or related topics
[**Career planning**](/topic/subject/career-planning?ab=articlepage-topic) and [**Personal strategy and style**](/topic/subject/personal-strategy-and-style?ab=articlepage-topic)

- [Francesca Gino](/search?term=francesca%20gino&search_type=search-all) is a behavioral scientist and the Tandon Family Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. She is the author of _[Rebel Talent](https://www.amazon.com/Rebel-Talent-Pays-Break-Rules/dp/0062694634/)_ and _[Sidetracked](https://www.amazon.com/Sidetracked-Decisions-Derailed-Stick-Plan/dp/1422142698/)_.


[francescagino](https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=francescagino)

- [Maryam Kouchaki](/search?term=maryam%20kouchaki&search_type=search-all) is a professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management. Her research explores ethics, morality, and the complexity and challenges of managing ethnic and gender diversity for organizations.


- [Tiziana Casciaro](/search?term=tiziana%20casciaro&search_type=search-all) is a professor of organizational behavior and HR management and holds the Marcel Desautels Chair in Integrative Thinking at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. She is the co-author of _[Power, for All: How It Really Works and Why It’s Everyone’s Business](https://www.amazon.com/Power-All-Really-Everyones-Business/dp/1982141638)_ (Simon & Schuster, 2021).



- [Post](http://twitter.com/HarvardBiz)
- [Post](http://www.facebook.com/HBR)
- [Share](https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review?trk=biz-companies-cym)
- Annotate

- Save

- Get PDF

- [Buy Copies](/product/learn-to-love-networking/R1605J-PDF-ENG)
- [Print](javascript:window.print();)

New!

![](/resources/css/images/hmm/HBR-learning-icon.png)HBR Learning

Leveraging Your Networks Course

Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Leveraging Your Networks. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.

Map, assess, and strengthen your professional relationships.

[Start Course](/api/hmm/link?url=%2Fcontent%2Fleveraging_your_networks%2Flandingpage.html%3Futm_source%3Dhbrwebsite%26utm_medium%3Darticle-tout)

[Learn More & See All Courses](/learning?ab=articlepage_hmm-landing_hmm-tout-bottom)

![](/resources/images/hmm/Course_Illustrations/Leveraging_Your_Networks_Course/topic_landing_page_1400.png)

Read more on [**Professional networks**](/topic/subject/professional-networks?ab=articlepage-topic)
or related topics
[**Career planning**](/topic/subject/career-planning?ab=articlepage-topic) and [**Personal strategy and style**](/topic/subject/personal-strategy-and-style?ab=articlepage-topic)

#### Partner Center

[Latest](/the-latest) [Magazine](/magazine) [Topics](/topics) [Podcasts](/podcasts) [Store](/store) [The Big Idea](/big-ideas) [Data & Visuals](/data-visuals) [Case Selections](/case-selections) [HBR Learning](/learning) [Ask AI](/ai-beta)

[![Harvard Business Review Home](/resources/css/images/hbr_logo.svg)](/)

[**Subscribe**](/subscriptions?ab=footer-subtout&tpcc=houseads.site.footer-subtout)

###### Explore HBR

- [The Latest](/the-latest)
- [All Topics](/topics)
- [Magazine Archive](/magazine)
- [The Big Idea](/big-ideas)
- [Case Selections](/case-selections)
- [Podcasts](/podcasts)
- [Webinars](/webinars)
- [Data & Visuals](/data-visuals)
- [My Library](/my-library)
- [Newsletters](/email-newsletters)
- [HBR Press](/hbrpress)

###### HBR Store

- [Article Reprints](/store/articles)
- [Books](/store/books)
- [Cases](/store/case-studies)
- [Collections](/store/collections)
- [Magazine Issues](/store/magazine-issues)
- [HBR Guide Series](/store/landing/guides)
- [HBR 20-Minute Managers](/store/landing/20-minute-managers)
- [HBR Emotional Intelligence Series](/store/landing/emotional-intelligence-series)
- [HBR Must Reads](/store/landing/mustreads)
- [Tools](/store/tools)

###### About HBR

- [Contact Us](/contact-us)
- [Advertise with Us](/hbr-advertising-sales)
- [Information for Booksellers/Retailers](/booksellers-retailers)
- [Masthead](/about-hbr)
- [Global Editions](/global-editions)
- [Media Inquiries](/media-inquiries)
- [Guidelines for Authors](/guidelines-for-authors-web)
- [HBR Analytic Services](/hbr-analytic-services)
- [Copyright Permissions](/permissions)

###### Manage My Account

- [My Library](/my-library)
- [Topic Feeds](/my-library/topics)
- [Orders](/my-library/orders)
- [Account Settings](/my-library/settings)
- [Email Preferences](/my-library/preferences)
- [Account FAQ](/subscriber-help)
- [Help Center](https://hbphelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us)
- [Contact Customer Service](/subscriber-help#contact-customer-service)

###### Follow HBR

- [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/HBR)
- [X Corp.](http://twitter.com/HarvardBiz)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvard-business-review?trk=biz-companies-cym)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/harvard_business_review/?hl=en)
- [Your Newsreader](http://feeds.hbr.org/harvardbusiness/)

![Harvard Business Publishing](/resources/images/2018/new_logo_May11.png)

- [About Us](/corporate/about)
- [Careers](/corporate/careers)
- [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)
- [Cookie Policy](/corporate/cookie-policy)
- [Copyright Information](/corporate/copyright)
- [Trademark Policy](http://trademark.harvard.edu/pages/trademark-notice)
- [Terms of Use](/terms-of-use)

Harvard Business Publishing:

- [Higher Education](http://hbsp.harvard.edu/)
- [Corporate Learning](http://www.harvardbusiness.org)
- [Harvard Business Review](http://hbr.org/)
- [Harvard Business School](http://www.hbs.edu)

Copyright ©  Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.