You're aiming to connect with senior leaders in your organization. How can you effectively network with them?

The first step to connect with senior leaders is to know about them. Know their vision and goals, and their methodology of achieving those goals. With this you can easily start a conversation with them, since anyone would be interested to talk to a person who can add value to the talk. This information will prove that you have a genuine interest in their work, and are aligned towards their thought process in taking the organisation forward.

To go forward you must first acknowledge how you got there and the senior leaders are a big part of that. Let seniors leaders know that they are always valued and appreciated. One way to do this is by acknowledging all of the great things they have done for the organization in the past as well as the present. Additionally, show a genuine interest in their story, their wins or journey to get to where they are now. This will foster respect and will make them more open to hearing any new agenda or innovation for the future.

One of the best things you can do to broaden your network is to diversify your methods. A simple way to do this is to use your existing contacts to make referrals or introductions at events. At a trade show or expo, encourage colleagues to introduce you to people they know rather than going in cold.

Be socially astute. First, be clear about your career goals and what you want to gain from relationships so you can be strategic with your time and how you invest in these relationships. Once you know your career goals and are ready to share the value you can add to your organization, research the organization's environment and people. Create a living networking map and consider who the influential people are that you need to connect with to advance or grow. Find ways your goals align with those of senior leaders. The connecting part will be more authentic and organic because you are connecting based on commonalities.

When seeking opportunities for interacting with senior leaders, it's best to find common ground for making a genuine relationships. Often I have reached out to senior leaders to seek mentorship and guidance from them. You could share thought leadership posts on LinkedIn and expressing opinion on the content they post to initiate a dialogue. Attend conferences or company events to find opportunities to connect for a conversation. Then following it up with periodical updates and support. It can be as easy as volunteering to be on projects, taking the extra mile to contribute. If you aim at demonstrating your value in all of your interactions, the good work about your contribution will have a ripple effect to reach them.

Interested in connecting with senior leaders in your organization? Give them a reason to. Many leaders aren't going to give you time for an intro, to catch-up, or to connect. They want a tangible business reason on why they should take 15, 30, 45 minutes or longer to spend with you. Pitch a Solution One of the best ways to get in front of them is to take one of the biggest problems or opportunities in the company and propose a solution for it. Use a high level summary as a reason to meet. Another way is to bring a concept that is successfully done outside your company, but your firm has yet to adopt. Taking a known successful practice, and presenting a case on why leadership should consider it. Find what matters to them and leverage.

It’s no secret that we think skills-based hiring is the way of the future. Skills testing can help you understand what someone can actually do, not just what degrees they have. Having key skills in mind while networking is also an excellent way to identify potential candidates.

Tools like an elevator pitch and a personal value proposition are incredibly useful when aiming to connect with senior leaders and present your added value. Having a brief, persuasive speech about oneself and a statement summarizing your professional value and key strengths can make a strong impression and effectively communicate your unique contributions. On top of the lasting impression, these tools help you articulate where you're coming from, where you are currently, and where you're heading, making it easier to know yourself better. Not to be forgotten! Make them remember your positive attitude in whatever way (e g. a smile, friendly joke...etc.).

To effectively connect, focus on building genuine relationships. Attend industry events and company functions, and don’t hesitate to initiate conversations. Show interest in their insights and experiences. Leverage platforms like LinkedIn to engage with their content and share thoughtful comments. Seek mentorship opportunities and be proactive in reaching out. Remember, networking is about mutual value—listen, learn, and contribute. Building these connections can open doors to new opportunities and invaluable guidance.

You’ve probably heard the statistic that 93% of communication is nonverbal. If you’re neurodivergent, a little anxious, or maybe just feeling down on the day of a big mixer, this might stress you out. But don’t worry, this is actually a popular misunderstanding of two separate experiments conducted in the 1960s. There’s no objective measure of how much it matters if you give “bad” non-verbal cues. After all, we’ve all had moments in which we were unsure what to do with our arms when walking. Showing our nerves through our body language is only human, and most people understand.

You might be tempted to let candidates come to you if they’re interested in what your company does, and yes, being proactive is a green flag in a candidate. However, you also don’t want to waste time playing hard to get when another business could snatch up top talent. Be open and friendly when approaching people standing alone, and encourage group conversation with the people around you as much as possible. This might be by inviting candidates to talk to you and your colleagues or facilitating a conversation between strangers. This approach benefits you and the candidate by helping you both expand your networks. Plus, everyone likes the person who rescues them from standing alone by the buffet table.

To engage senior leaders, I spearheaded a project to improve our internal communication platform. I began by presenting data on current usage and potential benefits of an upgrade, emphasizing its alignment with company goals. I then organized a pilot program involving a diverse group of employees to test new features and gather feedback. Regular updates and success stories were shared with senior leaders, highlighting increased engagement and efficiency. By demonstrating tangible results and involving them in the process, I secured their support and resources for a full rollout, leading to enhanced communication and productivity across the company.

One thing I did when I was seeking to advance in career and engage with senior leaders is I took initiative to find a problem and used courage to set up a meeting to describe how I would address it. It gained recognition and praise.

- Showcase your work with pet projects in meetings. - Volunteer for community groups and share ideas and concerns in a genuine way.

Career-minded individuals aiming to connect and network with senior leadership can adopt an executive mindset through the use of a leadership strategy, "The Language of Power" which stresses the importance of outcomes over activities. “The Language of Power” means strategizing, identifying growth opportunities, setting visions, and establishing long-term goals. It requires systems thinking to see successful results as interconnected systems of inputs, processes, and outputs. This is how senior leaders think. When networking with senior leaders, communicate your focus on outcomes. Use outcome language in meetings, writing, and presentations to ensure recognition and notice for your valuable contributions.

Make it about them. This isn't about you, it's about you sharing with them, teaching them, learning from them, but not over-selling you. Get curious, find a way to connect, and make it about them and how you can help them achieve their objectives. Understanding from others on what's important, what they need help with, and what expertise, time, or effort that you can bring to resolve or provide the solution. You can "sell" yourself through action, not just talking. Using your window to share and gain insights in the context of hearing from them, allows for that window to stay open for further follow-up, and you extend your opportunity to get in front of them. You can and should sell yourself, but you must understand the context.