The art of networking: making the most of meeting up

Professional and personal benefits

The professional benefits of networking are manifold, especially within healthcare.[iii] In the dental profession, networking provides the opportunity to build knowledge with specialists in different fields and learn about new products and technology that could benefit your practice. Connecting with the right people could develop a network of colleagues for complex treatment referrals, research projects or mentorship collaborations.

Networking rewards aren’t all work-related. The process of meeting new people, discussing topics both familiar and unfamiliar, exchanging details and arranging follow-up meetings can all have a positive effect on your social confidence: especially if you are a naturally shy person. Work-related contacts can often make the transition to personal friends, expanding your social circle too.

Network settings

Networking within the dental industry can take place in a multitude of settings. Trade shows, conferences and exhibitions bring thousands of delegates from related fields within dentistry together in one place. Exhibitors will be ready and eager to exchange details, talk about industry topics and answer questions in their field. The scale of such events means there are usually plenty of informal communal areas to meet up with people on a more personal, low-key level, striking up a conversation with someone while you grab a coffee, for instance, or chatting in the sandwich queue.

From local to global

Effective networking can also take place away from key industry events: at training days, for example, or activities organised by professional bodies. Joining social committees is a more informal, smaller-scale form of networking that can also generate new connections.[iv] At the other end of the spectrum, online networking sites such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook can, of course, lead to an almost infinite number of interactions with new contacts, searchable in specific terms such as industry, position, experience, shared contacts and more.[v] While such sites are undoubtedly powerful tools, their lack of initial personal connection could be seen as the compromise for their scope.

Be prepared

If you are planning to attend organised industry events in order to, in part at least, network, it pays to be prepared. Look ahead: find out the information that will help you to network productively. Research exhibitors, talk schedules and seminars. Focus on areas that are professionally interesting to you. Carry relevant materials and stationery, such as business cards and leaflets, so they are easily to hand.

Mind your body language

While you’re talking to people, think about your body language – particularly if you’re shy. Be aware that you might slip into a ‘closed’ position if you’re feeling nervous and work on opening yourself up. Conversations can be started easily with simple, friendly questions. Useful snippets of interesting industry information are good ways to engage people. Above all, be your authentic self.

Following up

Follow up any commitments you make to contacts. However trivial the actions promised may seem, it’s important to establish reliability. Meaningful follow-ups can include registering for courses or events you discussed attending together, forwarding a document you mentioned or even emailing a quick, post-event ‘nice to have met you’. This is where social networking sites are really useful: a follow or a like on someone’s LinkedIn page or Instagram account raises your visibility to both your contact and their own network of followers.

Unexpected benefits, surprising outcomes

One of the nicest aspects of networking are the unplanned encounters, conversations and talks that can lead to new contacts, perspectives and ideas.[vi] Dentistry Show London 2023 takes place at ExCeL, London in October and is an excellent place to connect with thousands of professionals from all walks of dentistry, from practice managers to dental hygienists/therapists, practice managers to dental nurses. The Association of Dental Administrators and Managers (ADAM), the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) will be contributing to the programme, amongst others, and Jason Wong, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS England, will be speaking on behalf of the Mouth Cancer Foundation. The sheer diversity of the exhibitors, speakers and delegates makes Dentistry Show London 2023 a very exciting networking prospect to put in your diary this autumn.

An enjoyable endeavour

Networking could be described as work, without the actual work. What could be seen as a somewhat daunting prospect could very well end up being a gratifying – even fun – activity. The right approach will help you to get the most out of networking opportunities, whether they’re organised industry events or impromptu workplace get-togethers. It can lead to surprising and unexpected benefits and outcomes and, ultimately, meaningful professional connections that develop into long-lasting, useful and enjoyable relationships.[vii]

Dentistry Show London 2023 will be held on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 October, ExCeL London.

For more information, visit london.dentistryshow.co.uk

[i] Gov.uk. Careers advice: networking. Available at: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/networking. Accessed April 17, 2023.

[ii] Woodrow M, Seddon C, Waite C, Kelso T. British Dental Association blog: The four nations’ wishes for 2023. January 11, 2023. Available at: https://bda.org/news-centre/blog/Pages/The-four-nations-wishes-for-2023.aspx. Accessed April 18, 2023.

[iii] Health professional networks as a vector for improving healthcare quality and safety: a systematic review: https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/qhc/21/3/239.full.pdf

https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/qhc/21/3/239.full.pdf

[iv] Porter CM, Woo SE. Untangling the networking phenomenon: a dynamic psychological perspective on how and why people network. Journal of Management 2015; 41:1477–1500. pp19-20. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Caitlin-Porter-2/publication/275581408_Untangling_the_Networking_Phenomenon_A_Dynamic_Psychological_Perspective_on_How_and_Why_People_Network/links/553fa2280cf29680de9ba333/Untangling-the-Networking-Phenomenon-A-Dynamic-Psychological-Perspective-on-How-and-Why-People-Network.pdf. Accessed April 18, 2023.

[v] Brandão MA, Moro MM. Social professional networks: A survey and taxonomy. Computer Communications, Volume 100, 2017, Pages 20-31, ISSN 0140-3664. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2016.12.011. Accessed April 18, 2023.

[vi] Chen J, Chen C-Hua, Chess C, Ehrlich K, Eleftheriou M, Helander M, Lasser C, McAllister S, Medeiros S, Penchuk K, Snowdon J, Steen, M, Topol A. Enhanced Professional Networking and its Impact on Personal Development and Business Success. 2008. Available at:file:///Users/writer/Downloads/Enhanced_Professional_Networking_and_its_Impact_on.pdf Accessed April 18, 2023.

[vii] The Health Foundation. Effective networks for improvement: developing and managing effective networks to support quality improvement in healthcare. Available at: https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/EffectiveNetworksForImprovement.pdf. Accessed April 18, 2023.