Building Authentic Connections as a Leader: A Better Approach to Networking

When people talk about networking, what comes to mind for many of us is images of awkward small talk in a crowded room, trying to remember names while juggling a coffee and hoping the conversation doesn’t run dry. It’s all just discomfort discomfort. I remember early in my career standing at network events with my business cards ready, but not really knowing what to do with them. I left these places with a handful of cards in my pocket but no real sense of connection.

Over time, I’ve learned that building professional relationships doesn’t have to feel like that. For most of us, connection comes more naturally when it feels genuine, when the conversation has space to flow, and when there’s a sense of mutual interest rather than pressure.

Here are some approaches that I’ve found help to create connections that last:

LinkedIn as a Conversation Tool: LinkedIn has become a place where many of my strongest professional relationships began. Instead of simply trying to connect with people I didn’t know well, I started taking the time to send a short note about why I was reaching out. Sometimes it’s because I’d read something they’d written that resonated with me. Sometimes it was because we had a shared interest in leadership development or inclusion. Those small gestures often turned into real conversations over time. I’ve since collaborated with people I first connected with in this way.

Finding Value in Events: Industry events can feel intimidating, especially if you arrive thinking you have to impress. What’s helped me is approaching conversations with genuine curiosity. Asking people what drew them to the event or what they’re working on has opened the door to some of the most enjoyable exchanges. I once found myself in a long discussion by the coffee table with someone who later became a trusted collaborator. Neither of us was trying to sell anything. We were just talking about the challenges of leading change in organisations, and the connection grew from there.

Joining Supportive Groups: Belonging to communities makes a big difference. Groups such as the Black Professional Leaders Network or women-in-leadership forums create space to meet others who understand the realities of leadership from different perspectives. I’ve been part of a few leadership networks over the years, and what I value most is the sense of encouragement they provide. In those spaces, opportunities often arise naturally because people are invested in each other’s growth.

Following Up With Care: Reaching out to someone after you’ve met doesn’t have to be formal. A short message that mentions something you enjoyed about the conversation shows that you valued the exchange. I’ve often shared an article or book recommendation as a follow-up, and it’s surprising how often that simple act has kept the conversation going.

Building Relationships Over Time: The most meaningful professional relationships I’ve experienced have grown steadily. They’ve come from showing interest, keeping in touch, and finding small ways to support one another. Sometimes that’s meant recommending someone for an opportunity, other times it’s simply been checking in. Over the years, those relationships have been the ones that created the most rewarding opportunities.

Networking doesn’t need to feel forced or uncomfortable.

When we allow conversations to be natural and approach others with genuine curiosity, we create connections that feel more human.

Over time, those connections become the relationships that truly support us in our work and leadership.