Starting the new year with a reflection on 2020. One thing that helped me grow even without in-person interaction were the online communities. Learn how you can leverage communities to build your authentic network

#networking #community #newyear

1/ Being an introverted engineer, networking doesn’t come naturally to us. We really have to force ourselves out of the comfort zone.

2/ I have been lucky to be part of some amazing communities in the last few years. But being part of a community may not mean we are doing effective networking. One still needs to actively engage with the community.

3/ Starting with cliché but be authentic - be yourself. Get over the FOMO. Learn from extroverts but don’t try to imitate. You don’t have to do everything others are doing, focus on your unique strengths.

4/ Find the right folks you could connect with, schedule 1:1s or small group conversations. Create a goal. Create your own spreadsheet, follow up with folks and track interactions.

5/ Find ways to help others, offer your time, share introductions of folks who could be helpful to others. https://twitter.com/naval/status/1332457855245434880?s=20

6/ But do *not* overdo! Remember your time is critical, use it wisely. Make sure you have your priorities set right. Quality over quantity. https://twitter.com/hunterwalk/status/1343645606527393792?s=20

7/ Ask for warm introductions, use the network as an unfair advantage. Expect a double-opt-in introduction and make it easier for someone to make the intro. https://hbr.org/2019/12/how-to-ask-for-an-email-introduction

8/ Express gratitude, whether it’s a simple thank you note, or a shout out on Slack or social media. Gratitude not only shows you appreciated, but also makes it likely that one is likely to help you again in future.

9/ Thanks @ChristopherFong for bringing me along to build the @XooglerCo community. It has provided me so much more than what I had put in. We are now 9000+ members in 5 years.

10/ Thanks @lennysan for building a community of some of the most heavy-hitting product operators in the world. There’s so much wisdom in one place.

11/ Thanks @eriktorenberg and @david__booth for inviting me to join @beondeck #odf7 and meet such extraordinary human beings and future leaders. I’ve had so many exciting conversations through ondeck in the last few weeks.

12/ And thank you @realityisrael for opening my mind to the world outside silicon valley and connecting me with some of the most influential creators in the world.