Intelligent CXO Issue 34 | Page 28

FEATURE

THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING IN 2024

Walking into a networking event can be a daunting task , and when diaries get busy it is often the thing pushed to the bottom of the to-do list . As we have all become more accustomed to hybrid working , online communities and digital communication , Sarah Thackray , the Co-founder and Director of BeaconHouse Events , discusses why in-person networking is more important than ever in the year ahead .

We are social creatures and we live in a world that thrives on connection . Opportunities for like-minded professionals to get together in the same room are getting rarer and rarer , but strategic networking gives us a space where we can discuss big ideas , create new opportunities and have conversations that help us expand our world . In 2024 , networking is about so much more than collecting business cards or LinkedIn QR codes , it is about community building , innovation and strategic professional growth . The trick is to choose where you spend your time carefully , as without proper attention you may end up with a calendar full of networking sessions that offer little or no value to your personal growth or business ambitions . Take time to establish what you hope to gain from the process and set yourself a set of clear goals or actions for each networking event that you attend , that way you can easily measure where you are getting the most value .

With teams feeling more pressure than ever and diaries bursting at the seams , why should you make time to attend networking this year ?
Expanding your world
In an increasingly online world , it can be easy to get stuck in an echo chamber of your immediate network . Making the time to attend networking sessions , even if they are digital or hybrid events , is an effective way of opening the doors to new people and ideas that can inspire you and help
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