No time for networking? A common mistake – but one that can be solved.

No time for networking? (AI generated)

Today, I delivered the reflective closing session of my business networking training programme in a company. One participant shared that over the past few weeks he had hardly done any networking because there was simply too much to do – and asked for advice on how to handle this better in the future.

This situation is honest.And it is absolutely typical.

Networking is not a nice-to-have – it is a strategic success factor

Business networking is often underestimated as long as things are running smoothly. Projects come in, customers are there, calendars are full. It is only when things start to slow down that it becomes clear how valuable strong, reliable relationships really are.

A strong network does not just create new business opportunities. It provides orientation, trust, sparring, recommendations – and sometimes exactly that one contact that makes the decisive difference.

Networking does not fail because people consider it unimportant. It fails either because the necessary skills are not sufficiently developed, or because networking simply has no fixed place in day-to-day working life.

The real challenge: urgency beats importance

Full calendars, operational issues, meetings and emails – all of this feels urgent. Networking, by contrast, often seems abstract, long-term and therefore easy to postpone. This is exactly where the misconception lies.

Networking is not an additional task at the top of the list, and certainly not a nice-to-have. It is the foundation that makes many things easier, faster – or possible in the first place. The return on investment is there, even if it is sometimes difficult to quantify.

The good news: it does not require huge time slots.But it does require conscious decisions.

Five practical tips for consistent networking despite lack of time

1. Define networking as a core part of your role

As long as networking is seen as an “extra”, it will always lose out to operational tasks.

Instead, ask yourself:

• What role does networking play in my success?

• What expectations are realistic – and what responsibility do I carry myself?

Those who understand networking as part of their professional role automatically treat it differently. In my training sessions, I regularly convey a key principle of our service-driven economy: trust is the foundation of business decisions. Trust grows from relationships. Relationships grow from networking.

2. Block time in your calendar – and take it seriously

One of the most effective levers is also one of the simplest:

Schedule fixed time blocks for your network.

This time is not a buffer and not a placeholder. It is consciously reserved for:

• reviewing your network

• prioritising contacts

• arranging new meetings

• thinking strategically about your networking

• deriving and implementing concrete actions

What is not in the calendar does not happen in everyday working life. That applies to me as well.

3. Quality over quantity – relationships instead of contacts

Networking does not mean knowing as many people as possible.

It is about consciously maintaining clearly prioritised and relevant relationships:

• Who is currently important?

• Who have I not been in touch with for a while?

• Where can I provide real value?

A small number of well-maintained relationships often has far more impact than a large, loose network.

4. Integrate networking into existing routines

Networking does not always require an additional meeting.

Use existing occasions:

• a follow-up after a project

• a personal message instead of a formal email

• conversations at networking events

• shared lunch or coffee meetings for a catch-up

• a targeted recommendation without expectation

• deliberate interactions on LinkedIn

Small, regular impulses keep relationships alive.

5. Move from thinking to action

Many people reflect on their networking – but then do nothing. As the saying goes: doing is like wanting, only more effective.

The crucial question is always: What will I do next, specifically?

• Who will I contact this week?

• Which relationship do I want to deepen?

• Where can I actively support someone?

Networking only works when thoughts are consistently translated into action.

Conclusion: Lack of time is real. Priorities are a decision.

Time pressure will not disappear. Full to-do lists are part of everyday working life.

The question is not whether you have time for networking.

The question is whether you consciously make space for it.

Because strong business relationships do not emerge by chance. They are the result of clarity, mindset and consistent execution.

And that is exactly the difference between sporadic networking and genuine, sustainable relationship building.