Nobody succeeds alone. Every executive, manager, or entrepreneur who’s made meaningful progress has relied on the insights and support of others.

Whether it’s securing your first client, acquiring funding, solving a complex problem, or landing a critical partnership—relationships act as your foundation. Building these connections, however, takes more than just quick conversations over coffee or through LinkedIn.

Today, networking is everywhere and nowhere at once. In theory, thanks to technology, we’re more connected than ever. But, many relationships are shallow, transactional, or quickly forgotten in reality.

Forming a network truly built on meaningful relationships—those that help you grow—requires a smarter, yet more human approach. This is where emotional intelligence (EI) enters the picture.

To help you grasp EI’s role in modern networking, we’ll dive into how they intersect. Afterwards, we’ll walk you through strategies that let you develop and apply its associated skills.

What is networking?

To start, networking involves building and maintaining professional relationships. In best-case scenarios, it’s a two-way street—both parties provide value, support, and share opportunities.

It goes beyond attending events and collecting business cards—it’s about cultivating deep ties that not only aid your growth, but also those you help in return. This entails:

  • Meaningful conversations
  • Consistent follow-ups
  • Collaboration
  • Nurturing trust

Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time or building a lasting business relationship, networking is an ongoing process of connecting with and supporting others.

Why is networking important?

Rather than just being a “nice-to-have”, networking is a career and business essential. In fact, your proficiency in forming and maintaining worthwhile professional relationships offers multiple advantages:

It opens up opportunities

Whether it’s growing a small-scale business, managing a team, or making a career pivot, your ability to build connections can open doors that no résumé or pitch deck ever could.

This is especially true, considering how 70% of roles aren’t advertised on job boards, while 85% of vacancies are filled through referrals. Not to mention, strategic partnerships, clients, and investors are often those you know, not who you meet online.

It drives collaboration and innovation

Your network isn’t just a list of contacts, it’s a pool of talent, knowledge, and insights. By engaging with other professionals, you tap into a broader spectrum of ideas and strategies.

When networking, collaboration often starts informally. It could begin through introductions, quick conversations, or shared events. Whatever the case, a wide and diverse group of individuals accelerates the possibility of creating innovative breakthroughs.

It maximizes and communicates value

Being skilled is one thing, but ensuring the right people know about it is another. Sustaining worthwhile professional relationships is critical. A survey by LinkedIn, in fact, found that 70% of its participants were hired by a company where they had a connection.

Effectively maintaining a network helps you stay top-of-mind. By doing so, when an opportunity arises, your name’s already in the room—even though you’re not.

The same principle applies to business: people trust who they know or someone recommended by who they trust. 

It’s a source of real-time problem solving

It’s not only the long-term that you consider when building a strong network. Your connections can also be day-to-day assets you tap into for smarter, faster decisions.

Think of how experienced professionals can advise you when faced with a complex issue, whether it be related to staffing, technology, or operations. From swift feedback to detailed insights, a strong network can become a problem-solving toolkit.

It builds credibility

Your network also serves as social proof. When other experienced professionals introduce you, work with you publicly, or speak highly of you, it further cements your reputation.

This is powerful in business settings, as your personal brand influences trust and buy-in for whatever role. For example, only 7% of typical job applications come from referrals. However, they make up 40% of hires and have the highest applicant-to-hire conversion rate.

It supports long-term growth

As your career evolves, so does your network. Those you meet early on may become clients, mentors, or business partners. Your connections help build and propel your momentum. Consistently utilizing and maintaining them, meanwhile, compounds results.

As entrepreneur Porter Gale points out in her book, “Your network is your net worth.” In today’s industries and economies, where trust and access can overshadow qualifications, the quote isn’t just a catchphrase—it’s a key principle.

Why isn’t networking as easy as before?

Before, communication was mainly done in person, as technology was underdeveloped and people were limited to phone calls and faxes. Due to these constraints, professionals networked in workplaces, events, and settings that required face-to-face interactions.

Today, due to technological progress, digital communication has taken center stage, resulting in more fast-paced professional environments. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the rapid rise of remote work as well.

Although more efficient, as platforms like LinkedIn let you easily connect with others, people are more isolated, making it difficult to truly engage. You can, for instance, click “Connect” on someone’s profile without ever speaking to them.

The drawback, however, is you end up with acquaintances you’ve never met. Since you don’t truly know each other, the superficial connection doesn’t lead to meaningful professional growth.

To sum it up, since convenience has replaced genuine connection, personal interactions—where trust and rapport are built more naturally—are now a thing of the past.

How can you network in a world of inauthentic connection?

As exchanges are now mostly digital, face-to-face networking seldom takes place. There is a competency, however, that lets you navigate such interactions.

Enter emotional intelligence

EI pertains to your ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions—both your own and others’. Its core skills include:

  • Self-awareness: This lets you recognize what triggers certain reactions and their effects on your attitude—basically, your emotional strengths and weaknesses. 
  • Self-regulation: This tackles how well you control your emotions and responses, no matter the circumstance.
  • Empathy: This refers to your capacity to place yourself in others’ shoes—how you grasp and share their emotions, then acknowledge their outlooks and needs.
  • Social skills: These encompass your ability to effectively communicate, collaborate, and resolve conflicts—interpersonal proficiencies.
  • Motivation: This covers what pushes you to attain your goals, as well as your outlook while working toward them.

Emotional intelligence strengthens various aspects

EI’s associated competencies, meanwhile, bolster specific skills that are useful for networking:

  • Self-aware individuals are more mindful of their tone, body language, and emotional cues in various situations. This helps instill confidence, authenticity, and attentiveness, letting you leave engaging first impressions.
  • Skilled self-regulators make better listeners, as they know when to be attentive rather than just wait for their turn to speak. Conveying genuine interest, meanwhile, builds rapport and shows respect—elements that establish meaningful connections.
  • Networking isn’t always smooth, as misunderstandings or disagreements are inevitable when dealing with diverse individuals. Adequate EI lets you stay composed, navigate discomfort, and productively resolve tensions while pursuing your purpose.
  • Empathetic individuals can better relate to others’ experiences and perspectives. By building mutual understanding, you cultivate trust and make people inclined to collaborate with you or refer you to others.
  • Being socially skilled lets you stay attuned to your network’s evolving needs and moods. Whether it’s remembering important details about someone or following up at the right time, this lets you manage relationships thoughtfully and effectively.

Why emotional intelligence is critical for networking

The above strengths developed by EI, meanwhile, let you transform fleeting encounters into genuine connections in several ways:

They lay the foundation for meaningful relationships

Strong networks are founded on mutual trust and understanding. EI’s skills make this possible by enabling deep, empathetic interactions where each party’s perspectives are acknowledged.

Emotional Intelligence 2.0, a book by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves, even notes that EI accounts for roughly 58% performance in most jobs, as those who possess it:

  • Know how to build rapport
  • Read social cues
  • Respond appropriately

These capabilities allow you to sustain connections over time.

It helps you connect with yourself first

Before you can cultivate strong connections with others, having a healthy relationship with yourself is critical. EI starts with self-awareness, as the internal clarity it develops lets you communicate more effectively and confidently.

As you recognize emotional triggers, you’re also less likely to overreact, miscommunicate, or inadvertently alienate others.

As a result, stress, ego, and nerves don’t sabotage your interactions. Not to mention, self-awareness allows you to also understand your strengths, values, and what you bring to the table.

It improves communication and cultivates trust

Networking doesn’t always take place in relaxed settings. Sometimes you meet key stakeholders, decision-makers, or industry influencers.

In these critical situations, EI helps you stay calm, listen actively, and respond with precision despite the pressure. When you also recognize emotional cues—body language, tone, and the like—you respond more respectfully and empathetically.

Such capabilities build trust, the pillar of any strong network. Proper emotion and relationship management even correlates with influence and impact, with a study suggesting 90% of top performers have high EI.

It lets you adjust to different situations

Remember, your network is filled with people that remember how you made them feel. EI, meanwhile, allows you to respond appropriately to various scenarios. For example:

  • You recognize how to approach people and when to reach out
  • Quickly gauging the tone of a room or meeting gets easier
  • You connect with others on a more human level, not just a business one

Whether you’re in the workplace, at a networking event, or messaging someone on LinkedIn, EI helps you move from contact to connection.

How to utilize emotional intelligence for networking

When used with intention, EI is a powerful relationship-building tool, as you maximize the value of every interaction. Here are specific ways to apply EI and build better professional relationships:

Build common ground

An extremely effective way of connecting with someone is to find shared experiences, interests, or values. EI lets you pick up on these aspects and engage in ways that resonate.

You can start by actively listening to recognize subtle emotional cues, then get the ball rolling by cracking a small joke, giving a thoughtful comment, or asking an insightful question. These may be small exchanges, but they build bridges that can go a long way.

Be aware of your emotions

Self-awareness is an EI cornerstone. When you’re grounded, present, and in control of your emotions, you’re able to exude confidence, authenticity, and calm. This prevents nerves from derailing your interactions, thus maximizing your networking opportunities.

In high-pressure situations, acknowledge your anxiety and try to redirect it toward asking meaningful questions. If you’re frustrated, pause before initiating any conversations. When people recognize your emotional stability, they’re more likely to engage with you.

Know your value

EI also ties into knowing your strengths and communicating them without being boastful. The ability to articulate what you offer—your experience and expertise—confidently, yet humbly, conveys your value properly.

This is especially critical in professional networking, as potential colleagues, partners, and the like, want to know:

  • Who you are

  • What you do

  • How you can help

When you’re able to convey your worth clearly, you instantly become more memorable.

Be cognizant of others and your surroundings

Not everyone says what they feel, so listen and observe. Reading the room is an underestimated networking skill, but EI trains you to notice unspoken cues that others may miss. For instance:

  • Is someone uncomfortable during a group discussion?

  • Do your colleagues disengage when you speak?

  • Does your teammate need reassurance before they pitch in?

Recognizing such nuances lets you adjust your approach in real time. Depending on the situation, you can offer encouragement, step back from a conversation, or change the tone.

This establishes more comfortable environments for everyone involved, and making these pleasant exchanges possible can leave a lasting impression.

Socialize strategically

EI makes it easier to step into new environments and be yourself. With the security of being able to relate to others, networking becomes less intimidating and more natural. If you want to put yourself out there:

  • Attend events where mutual interests are clear, be it industry mixers, professional forums, or peer coaching sessions.
  • Join communities that share similar values. Compared to typical networking events, these enable more genuine interactions.
  • Don’t fear vulnerability and ask insightful questions. People are drawn to authenticity, so freely express yourself in ways that invite connection.

The more emotionally attuned you are, the more successful your networking becomes—not just in terms of quantity, but also the quality of your connections.

How to develop emotional intelligence for better networking

EI isn’t just a characteristic people naturally have. Like any skill, you can also acquire and hone it. Various strategies and tools make this possible.

Evaluate your interpersonal strengths

By truly understanding how you interact with others, you recognize your tendencies and find ways to improve your social proficiency. These assessments can measure skills and traits tied to this aspect:

Learn from experts

Guidance from specialists can supplement your learning about EI and its associated skills. You can, for instance, pursue:

  • Emotional Intelligence Programs: These personalized, behavior-based initiatives develop emotionally intelligent leadership—a key to building impactful teams.

Put it into practice

Knowledge can’t be maximized without practice. To utilize your newly-acquired EI skills, attend events and apply them. People Dynamics, for example, hosts opportunities for you to participate in real-time networking situations and meet fellow professionals.

Wrapping up—Form genuine relationships through emotionally intelligent networking

Expanding your network isn’t simply a matter of how many people you meet—what’s most important is how well you connect with them.

In a noisy world where surface-level interactions are commonplace, EI gives you an edge. It helps you stay authentic, leave memorable impressions, and build relationships that go beyond the transactional.

Modern networking isn’t just about who you know. It’s about how you show up and make others feel. While expanding your network is a continuous process, EI allows you to consistently reach out, stay in touch, and offer value.

By becoming a person people want to remember, refer, and work with, you begin the process of surrounding yourself with success. So, if you want to develop the necessary skills to achieve this, get in touch!