How To Take the Work out of Networking
By: Dorothy Dalton
Networking a strategic career skill
Research consistently shows that women have access to significantly fewer high-power professional network connections than men at equivalent career levels, a gap that compounds with seniority and is one of the strongest predictors of career stagnation. This workshop covers how building a strong network online and in person is vital for career success whether personal or for the organisation. This includes the value of mentoring, spentoring and sponsorship.
Format
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Online or In person
Who Should Attend
- Professional women who find networking uncomfortable, inauthentic, or something they consistently avoid
- Women who know their network is holding their career back but aren’t sure where to start and want to find a mentor and a sponsor
- Anyone preparing for a job search, career pivot, or move into a new sector or market
- Corporate teams and women’s networks looking to build networking capability collectively
What This Workshop Covers
Debunking Networking Myths
Networking advice for professional women is largely written for extroverts who already have access to the right rooms. This section examines the structural and psychological barriers that make networking harder for many women, including the discomfort of self-promotion, limited access to informal networks, and the double standard applied to women who network assertively and other gender differences. Understanding the landscape is the first step to navigating it strategically.
Building Your Networking Strategy
Effective networking is not about attending as many events as possible; it is about being deliberate. You will learn how to define your networking goals in line with your professional objectives, identify the right people and communities to connect with, and create a realistic strategy that fits your schedule. Fifteen focused minutes a day, consistently applied, outperforms hours of unfocused attendance.
In Person Networking
The discomfort most people feel at networking events begins long before they arrive. Particpants will learn how to prepare for an event, strategies for maximising their time there, and productive follow- up.
LinkedIn and Online Professional Presence
Your online profile is your networking foundation, it is working for you (or against you) whether or not you are at an event. This section covers how to maximise LinkedIn as a strategic networking and visibility tool: profile optimisation, content strategy, and how to use it to build relationships before, during and after in-person interaction.
What You Will Leave With
- A personal networking strategy aligned with your professional goals
- Practical techniques for before, during and after every networking event
- Confidence to approach and follow up with the people you want to meet
- A LinkedIn profile and presence that works as a networking asset
- A realistic daily habit that makes networking sustainable rather than occasional
The 3Plus Difference
This workshop is built from Dorothy Dalton’s direct experience coaching professional women on networking strategy across industries and geographies, and from 3Plus International’s research into the structural barriers that make networking harder for women at every career level. It combines practical technique with an honest acknowledgement of why the standard advice so often fails, and what to do instead.
Book This Workshop for Your Organisation
This workshop is available online or in-person and can be tailored to your sector, seniority level, or the specific networking context your participants are navigating, whether that is internal visibility, external business development, or job search. Contact us at info@3plusinternational.com or fill in the enquiry form below.
Dorothy Dalton
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