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    • Action plan

    Building a network from scratch

    High effort

    High impact

    Building a network isn’t only about reaching as many people as possible or making sales. It’s about making contacts who can provide guidance during critical moments and help your business move in the right direction. And, while a business network isn’t built in a day, there are a number of easy steps you can take to get the ball rolling and start reaping the rewards.

    • We’ve designed our action plans to be completed in the order of steps laid out and explained why each step is important
    • Customising your action plan lets you set your own completion dates, assign tasks to others and get notifications
    • Helpful tools are provided for certain steps while a tracking metric at the end will help you determine the long-term success of your effort
    • A downloadable PDF version of each action plan is available if you’d like to compete it offline
    What's involved? Ways to use this action plan Measuring impact
    1

    Make a list of your existing contacts and think about where it would be useful to develop relationships further

    Impact: low

    Why will this help?

    There’s plenty of knowledge and experience to be gained from “everyday” relationships, from suppliers to local partners. Developing relationships with those already around you is a logical place to start with your network.

    2

    Spend time creating an online presence and connecting with those in your industry to build your network

    Impact: medium

    Why will this help?

    Creating a profile on networking sites like LinkedIn is a fast way to make new connections and view the experiences and skills of others.

    Building a network from scratch

    Building a network allows you to access advice and guidance from other business leaders and experts. Use our checklist to get started.
    3

    Research and attend online groups and meetups with other business leaders

    Impact: medium

    Why will this help?

    Groups and meetups are often categorised by sector, business size or location, so you can choose the event based on the sort of connections you want to make.

    4

    Speak openly about your business and be prepared to give as well as take

    Impact: high

    Why will this help?

    The more you help your network, the more they’ll be willing to help you further down the line. Offering advice and speaking transparently about your business will encourage other business leaders to be honest too.

    5

    Think about how you will continue to build your network and set a relevant goal, like the number of connections in an industry or the amount of time spent at events

    Impact: high

    Why will this help?

    Setting goals provides a motivator to continue building and growing your network.

    What can I do with this Action Plan?

    Start this Action Plan

    Add some extra information to this plan and we’ll help you get it done.

    • We’ve designed our action plans to be completed in the order of steps laid out and explained why each step is important
    • Customising your action plan lets you set your own completion dates, assign tasks to others and get notifications
    • Helpful tools are provided for certain steps while a tracking metric at the end will help you determine the long-term success of your effort
    • A downloadable PDF version of each action plan is available if you’d like to compete it offline

    Download and print

    Get a printable template for this Action Plan, fill it in with some target dates, and share it with your team. Pin it on the wall where everyone can see it.

    Get the printable Action Plan

    Learning Groups

    We also run Learning Groups on these topics where you can join other leaders tackling the same challenges.

    Find a Learning Group

    How will I know if my action plan is working?

    Number of meaningful connections

    Your network provides a valuable resource

    Why this metric?

    Tracking the number of meaningful connections in your network will make sure you’re building it based on quality, not quantity.

    How do I start tracking?

    Examine your network after three months and ask yourself whether you’ve managed to build three meaningful connections that you could turn to for support – or offer support to – in the future.