• Guide to Networking index

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The networking methods you use will depend on the who, where and why of networking - the situation. For example:
If you aim to provide network services to members, supporters or volunteers, you might:

• Set up a contacts database with profiles of members
• Carry out an audit of skills
• Create an events calendar
• Develop a newsletter - print and/or email
• Run surveys and polls to find what people are interested in
• Run workshops and other events If you wish to create a collaboration network for a project or programme:
• Map who knows who, and what they are doing
• Run a co-design workshop to plan together what you aim to do
• Hold telephone conferences
• Set up an online workspace
• Visit each other and socialise In order to improve communications among core staff and/or committee members:
• Organise some social events - if you aren't doing that already
• Run a planning workshop so that everyone is involved in thinking through what's needed
• Develop action learning sets to help people learn from each other
• Apply internally some of the networking methods that you are using with members and other organisations To develop a wider range of personal contacts
• Read a professional networking guide - see resources - which may recommend for example …
• Widening your range of contacts through events
• Nurturing your contacts and relationships
• Identifying who can help - and then asking. People usually respond well
• Understanding people's differences - see also People section
• Making use of the Net