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How to Pick the Right Networking Events to Help You Reach Your Goals

Four steps to network strategically and make every connection count
People interacting with each other at a networking event

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As the summer lull transitions into a hectic fall filled with projects and meetings, it’s crucial to assess if your planned activities truly advance your career goals. Networking is key, but you should consider whether attending several consecutive happy hours or a seminar on a familiar subject is worthwhile.

To carefully prioritize and select networking events to attend this season, consider using the Eisenhower Matrix, a powerful decision-making tool that can narrow down your priorities and cut things from your schedule that aren’t genuinely benefiting you or your team.

Ready to get started? Here’s how to use the Eisenhower Matrix to choose the fall networking events that will best foster your professional growth this season.

Understanding the Eisenhower Matrix

Before using the Eisenhower Matrix, you must understand what it is. Think of the Eisenhower Matrix as a square. The square is split into four smaller squares, each with a designation: Urgent and Important, Important but Not Urgent, Urgent but Not Important, and Not Urgent and Not Important. You’ll quickly see that one of these designations will apply to every task on your to-do list and to every networking event on your calendar.

The Urgent and Important square is for tasks or events that are both important to your overall goals and timely.

The Urgent but Not Important square is for tasks or events that don’t serve your overarching goals to any great degree but come with time constraints; if you’re going to do it, you must do it now.

The Important but Not Urgent square is for tasks or events that serve your overarching goals but are not urgent.

The Not Urgent and Not Important square is for tasks or events that are neither timely nor supportive of your overarching goals.

If you find that a task is Urgent and Important, it deserves your full attention as soon as you can give it. If you find that a task is Urgent but Not Important, you may be able to delegate it to someone on your team; it needs to happen, but it’s not vital to your overall success. If a task is Important but Not Urgent, you should prioritize it but don’t feel you must rush. Lastly, if a task is Not Urgent and Not Important, take it off your to-do list.

Using the Eisenhower Matrix for Networking Events

So, what does using the Eisenhower Matrix look like when you apply it to networking events? Here’s the step-by-step process.

Step 1: List Potential Networking Events

First, list all the potential networking events you could attend in the coming weeks or months. Maybe these are events already on your calendar, like recurring professional development events or potential events you’re interested in attending.

If you’re looking for valuable professional development events to consider, check out Arootah’s lineup of virtual events that touch on a range of topics important to successful business leaders. You can also find events via networking platforms like LinkedIn and professional development publications like the Weekly Return. You may also be familiar with top hedge fund and alternative investment industry events, like Global Alts Asia 2024.

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Step 2: Define Your Goals

Once you have an idea of the networking events you could attend, define your goals. What are you hoping to get out of any networking event?

If you’ve never considered the overall goal of attending these events, you may need to set new goals. That goal might be simply building new connections, finding potential clients, learning from industry experts, or gaining personal brand exposure.

Step 3: Categorize Events Using the Eisenhower Matrix

Once you’ve outlined the possible networking events to attend and defined your goals, categorize them using the Eisenhower Matrix.

Urgent and Important events directly align with your goals and have some immediacy. Maybe the event will help you fill an immediate need, or perhaps it’s a one-time event you won’t get to attend again. Important but Not Urgent events are those that still directly align with your goals, but they’re not urgent, as in they don’t address an immediate need, and you’ll likely have a chance to attend a similar event in the future. Urgent but Not Important events seem pressing but don’t serve your goals. Lastly, Not Urgent and Not Important events are neither timely nor important to your goals.

If you’re having difficulty categorizing events, consider speaker and attendee profiles, cost and time required to attend, and location and convenience. You can use Arootah’s Decision Manager to help define your criteria further.

Step 4: Evaluate and Select Events

Once your events are organized, you can choose which to attend. Prioritize Urgent and Important events and plan to attend Important but Not Urgent events strategically, when and how it makes the most sense for your schedule and goals. You can likely choose not to attend Not Urgent and Not Important events. If you feel like an Urgent but Not Important event warrants your consideration, consider having a team member with less on their plate attend.

How to Maximize the Value of Networking Events

Whichever and however many networking events you attend this fall, ensure you get the highest value from each. Prepare by researching attendees and speakers and setting clear goals for what you want out of the event. Make an effort to engage with others and actively build meaningful connections. Don’t forget to gather contact info! Then, follow up with new contacts and reflect on how the event did or didn’t meet your goals.

The Bottom Line

With a bustling fall schedule ahead, investing your time in the right networking events is crucial. Utilizing the Eisenhower Matrix and Arootah Decision Manager for efficient decision-making can ensure you network strategically and make every connection count.

Need more help making business decisions during this busy time of year? Consider working with an Arootah Executive Coach. Get started with a free introductory call today to learn more.

Get practical strategies you can apply for personal and professional growth. Sign up for The Weekly Return newsletter today.

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Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be taken as professional medical, psychological, legal, investment, financial, accounting, or tax advice. Arootah does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or suitability of its content for a particular purpose. Please do not act or refrain from acting based on anything you read in our newsletter, blog or anywhere else on our website.

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