Networking for Mental Health Professionals: Give Yourself Permission to Try

Throughout business, one of the most effective ways to build relationships and create opportunities has always been through networking. These days, we have LinkedIn, social media and unlimited access to people and businesses trying to sell to us. But sometimes, it’s worth bringing things back to basics.

You might be missing opportunities that are right on your doorstep.

Connecting with professionals and businesses in your local area can be incredibly valuable. It’s not necessarily about selling yourself; it’s about bringing awareness to you, your personal brand and your services in a genuine, human way.

When I left the Priory and started my own business, it was a daunting time for me. I knew plenty of people within our industry, but I hadn’t really branched out and met local businesses and entrepreneurs.

My wife at the time encouraged me to join our local Chamber of Commerce, which opened a lot of doors for me. Through my time there, I got to meet lawyers, physicians, marketing professionals, business coaches, café owners – you name it, I probably met them!

For me, this was incredibly valuable because it allowed me to meet people outside of my usual professional circles and understand more about what they did. It also helped me see where we could potentially help or benefit each other.

Find your local Chamber of Commerce here - this can be a great place to start. They host a number of networking events throughout the year for their members, including breakfasts, dinners and charity balls, giving you opportunities to meet other business owners and professionals in your area.

If networking makes you feel uncomfortable, you’re not alone. The pressure to ‘sell yourself’ and make sure you get business can be enough to put people off the idea altogether.

But what if you looked at it differently? These are opportunities, not sales pitches.

You’re giving yourself the opportunity to build your confidence, meet new people, learn about other businesses and tell people who you are and what you do. For mental health professionals in particular, you may meet healthcare professionals, HR professionals, business owners, charities or other practitioners who could become valuable connections and/or referral partners in the future.

It’s a process, but if you can start shifting your mindset towards networking being about relationships rather than immediate business, you’ll hopefully feel much more relaxed when you give it a go.

Finding local networking opportunities is straightforward. Spend half an hour or so researching what’s available in your area.

Try searching for:

• Business networking events

• Local business opportunities

• Healthcare networking

• Wellness networking

• Mental health networking

• Women in business

• Small business networking

• Entrepreneur networking

• Charity networking

• Industry-specific networking events

  
  

You can also look at LinkedIn, Facebook and local business groups to see what events are happening near you.

Of course, it’s important to do your research before attending or paying for an event. Make sure you check that the organisation is legitimate. Look at their website, social media and reviews, and see if you can find people or businesses who have attended previous events.

If you’re unsure, contact the organisers and ask questions before committing. There’s nothing wrong with making sure an event is the right fit for you before you part with your money or your time.

As an example, when researching in my hometown area in Eastbourne, I came across a local charity-led networking event run by St. Wilfred’s Hospice (as seen here) where you’re asked to make a small contribution of £10, for an evening of informal networking and expert talks on the latest trends in the healthcare industry. I’ve been there before, so I know it’s legit. So remember, always do your research and make sure you’re comfortable with who is organising the event and where your money is going.

You don’t have to be the best networker in the room. You just need to be yourself and you have to be prepared.

Have a simple elevator pitch ready so that when someone asks, “What do you do?”, you’re not caught off guard. And remember, networking isn’t about talking about yourself for the entire evening.

Start with genuine conversations. Ask people about themselves, their businesses and what brought them to the event. Be interested in what they do. You might be surprised by the connections you make simply by having a conversation.

Take some business cards with you and, where appropriate, exchange contact details. Most importantly, remember to follow up afterwards.

Networking is about building relationships, not immediately making sales. Give yourself permission to try!

You might not walk into your first networking event feeling completely comfortable. You might not meet your next client. You might even leave wondering whether it was worth going.

One thing is true - the more opportunities you create for yourself to meet people, build relationships and make genuine connections, the more likely you are to discover new collaborations, referrals and opportunities.

You never know where one conversation might lead you. And remember, you don’t have to be a great networker to start networking. You just have to be willing to have a conversation.