Why Friends are Important in Business
The business world is not what it used to be. Gone (thankfully!) are the days when you would need to know someone in order to get a job or make money. Today, you can start your own company and make it big by yourself. But what if there was another way? What if you could use your social circle to help grow your business?
It is important for every professional to have friends in the industry who they can share ideas, information, and knowledge with. Friends also provide emotional support during difficult times in a career. When a professional has a friend who is also an expert in the same field of work, it becomes easier for them to bounce
Networking with friends and family members will help you grow your social circle, which will eventually lead to more opportunities in business.
According to Upwork “46% of freelancers got work via friends and family that way.” and the trend is increasing.
This article will explore what social circles are, how friends can be used as a tool for networking and how they can help grow your business.
3 Types of Social Circles and How They Affect Your Life
First, let’s define what a social circle is: a social circle is a group of people who know one another and interact with one another. These circles can be classified into three different types: intimate, public, and personal.
- Intimate circles are made up of people who share a close relationship with each other and have a high degree of emotional intimacy.
- Public circles are groups of people who share common interests but do not know each other personally.
- Personal circles are made up of friends and family members that you see on a regular basis.
The type of social circle you belong to can affect your life in different ways. For example, it can determine how many friends you have, the quality of your relationships, the amount of time you spend outside your home or office, or even how long you live.
Lack of social circle can negatively affect your life! A recent survey shows that “For Americans with three or fewer close friends loneliness and isolation are fairly common experiences—more than half say they have felt that way at least once in the past seven days. In contrast, only one in three Americans with ten or more close friends report feeling lonely in the past seven days.”
Therefore it’s very important to keep your circle active. But, if you stayed safely at home in the past two years, I’ve recently written a guide on how to network from home that might help you get you back on track!
How to Network with Friends for Maximum Success
If you’ve managed to keep your circle of friends, I’ve great news, you can mutually benefit and grow your social circles!
Here’s a few tips:
- Bring them along!
The best way to network with friends is to invite them to events that you are attending. This is a good way for you and your friends to get together and have fun while networking with other people.
In my previous job, I was invited to attend a Localization event organized by the local chapter. I knew that a friend of mine was looking for an opportunity to switch careers so I brought her there with me. While I wasn’t interested in moving my career in that direction, I still enjoyed getting to meet new people, learn a lot about this topic and strengthen my relationship with my friend.
She paid it back later by recommending me to my current employer!
If you are invited to an event, consider inviting some of your friends along so that they can network too. This will be a fun way for them to meet new people and make connections.
- Quality over quantity
There is a limit to how many people you can network with (find the actual number here) and it also applies to friends you want to network with.
You don’t want to gather all your friends in a room and play speed-networking with them. On the contrary, you want to spend quality time with one or a few of them
- Be friendly!
It is also important to be friendly, while still being professional. You want your friend to think that you’re someone they would want to work with, so don’t come on too strong or make them feel uncomfortable.
Looking for tips for starting a conversation? I’ve got your back with this great article that will help you master the art of small talk!
How to Use the Power of Social Media as a Networking Tool For You, Your Friends and Your Business
Social media has become a way of life for many people, and it is a powerful tool that can be used for networking.
Social media networking is a great way to meet new people in your area and in your industry. It’s also a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. But you can also use social media for your business, too!
The best thing about social media networking is that you don’t need to be afraid of the “cold call.” You can let people know what you do by posting on their feeds or commenting on their posts. And if they’re interested, they’ll reach out to you!
Here’s an example to use with a mutual friend:
”Hi [first name], I’ve seen your profile pop-up a few times in my feed lately. I’ve realised we’re both connected with [your mutual connection’s name]. To be honest — I’m impressed with your work at [company name] and would love to connect!
In the meantime, take care [your name]!”
And for more tips on how to write effective cold calls or if you want to follow-up with an email after connecting with a person, I’ve got you covered!
The Importance of Building a Stronger Circle of Friends
It is important to remember that the people we surround ourselves with are a reflection of who we are. They can be our greatest asset or our greatest liability.
The conclusion is that it is important to build a stronger circle of friends and not just have acquaintances in your life.
A strong circle of friends is the key to success in all aspects of life. Friends can be your support system, your sounding board, and your cheerleaders. They can also be the ones who help you get through tough times, like a breakup or job loss.
Some people are born with a natural gift for making friends easily. But for others, it takes more time and effort to find people who are compatible with them and share their interests.
So I hope that will make you reach out to your friends now but anyhow, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter. And, if you have other tips on networking with friends, I’m all ears!
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