Building Trust in Virtual Networking Situations

Meaningful partnerships are important to me. Lately, a significant portion of my work has involved connecting professionals in the healthcare innovation sector. My trip to Dallas last week started with organic introductions I made in 2024. Some may view making business introductions as a simple and quick process. The process takes time, and time has a cost. In healthcare, innovation doesn’t thrive in isolation; it takes the right connections to move ideas forward. But real impact happens when we prioritize relational partnerships over transactional exchanges. It’s about building trust, fostering mutual respect, and creating opportunities that solve real problems. Here are my thoughts on how to make meaningful introductions: ✅ Lead with Value, Not Ego. Don’t focus on what’s in it for you. Prioritize how both sides benefit from the introduction. Relationships built on genuine value last longer and go further. ✅ Know the Gaps Before You Fill Them. Understand the pain points of both parties. High-impact connections happen when you address a critical need or opportunity. ✅ Vet Ruthlessly, Introduce Thoughtfully. Not every connection is worth making. Be selective and introduce only when there’s a clear alignment of values, goals, and capabilities. Protect the integrity of your network. ✅ Do Your Homework. Before making an introduction, ensure you have a thorough understanding of both parties to effectively explain why the connection is significant. ✅ Frame the Introduction with Context. Set the stage. Provide both parties with sufficient background information to understand the relevance and potential of the relationship. Clarity upfront fosters respect and avoids wasted time. ✅ Stay in the Loop (But Don’t Hover). Follow up to see if the introduction was valuable, but don’t micromanage the outcome. Relationships that thrive are built on trust, not control. ✅ Be a Problem Solver, Not Just a Connector. Your role doesn’t end with the introduction. Be available to offer insights or guidance if needed as the relationship develops. ✅ Protect Your Network’s Trust. Introduce only when it makes sense. One mismatched connection can erode trust and weaken your credibility. Guard your network’s reputation as carefully as your own. ✅ Build for the Long Game. Relational partnerships aren’t built overnight. Consistently show up, add value, and nurture trust over time. Sustainable impact comes from authentic, long-term connections. ✅ Celebrate the Wins. When a connection you made leads to something great, acknowledge it. Recognize the impact and reinforce the power of trusted relationships. Relational partnerships move healthcare forward. When trust and respect are the foundation, introductions become catalysts for real change. If you’re serious about advancing innovation, be intentional with your connections. It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality, trust, and lasting impact. 🔥 #healthcareonlinkedin #partnerships #innovation #sme

“Networking is awkward.” You know what’s more awkward? Graduating in May 2025 and applying to 127 jobs with… zero callbacks. Let’s fix that with networking ideas no one’s talking about. and I mean actionable.. 1. “Reverse Research” Your Way Into a Conversation Instead of asking people what they do, show them what you know about what they’ve done. How to do it: Find someone on LinkedIn in your target company/role Read their posts, podcasts, or panels they’ve been on Then send this message: “Hi [Name], I came across your [talk/article/post] on [topic]—your point about [insight] made me think differently. I’m researching [industry], and would love to hear your take on [specific follow-up]. Would it be okay to connect?” That’s conversation built on respect. 2. Book Club for Industry Geeks Start a virtual book or podcast club for your industry. Invite professionals to speak at the end of each cycle. How to do it: Pick 3 peers + 1 book or podcast Create a simple calendar (4 weeks = 4 touchpoints) End with a “Wrap-Up” Zoom chat—invite a guest Post your takeaways on LinkedIn and tag them Because learning together? Is the strongest way to network. 3. Write A “Public Thank You” Post on LinkedIn You probably learned something cool from someone recently. Now imagine you posted it publicly, gave them a shoutout, and showed how you applied it. How to do it: Tag the person Share what they taught you Share what you did next Ask your network, “What’s something YOU learned from someone this month?” You just gave free visibility, created a loop, and 10 people will want to talk to you after. 4. Turn Informational Chats into Co-Creation Networking chats often stop at “thanks for the time.” What if it didn’t? What to do: After the call, send a note: “Hey [Name], based on our chat about [topic], I drafted a small idea to build on your advice. Would love your thoughts!” Create a graphic, short write-up, or project plan (just 1 page!) Now you’re not just a student. You’re someone they collaborated with. That’s relationship-building, not just networking. 5. The 5-5-5 Strategy Most people get stuck on who to reach out to. Here’s a weekly formula: 5 People You Admire (Founders, creatives) 5 People From Your School Network (Alums, professors, guest speakers) 5 Peers Who Are Also Job Hunting (Build a support circle, swap leads) Message all 15. Repeat weekly. That’s 156 conversations in 3 months. You don’t “find” jobs—you build the path to them. Reminder: Networking isn’t about who has the fanciest title. It’s about who remembers you when an opportunity comes up. Be the person who listened, learned, shared, and followed up. If you’re reading this and job searching— try one new method this week. Not next month. Not when it feels “less scary.” Now. You’re not late. #May2025Grads #NetworkingTips #CreativeCareerMoves #JobSearchStrategy #InternationalStudents #GradJobHunt #BeyondTheResume #HumanConnection #Topmate

People often ask me for quick ways to build trust on a team. I have a dozen solid go-to moves, but one stands out because it’s dead simple and nearly always works. You’ve probably heard of the “connection before content” idea—starting meetings with a personal check-in to warm up the room. But let’s be honest: questions like “What’s your favorite color?” or “What five things would you bring on a deserted island?” don’t build trust. They just waste time. If you want a real trust-builder, here’s the question I use: “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?” That’s it. One question. And here’s why it works: 𝟭. It creates vulnerability without forcing it. You can’t answer this question without being a little real. And when someone’s real with you, it’s hard not to trust them more. You see the human behind the role. 𝟮. It unlocks practical support. Once I hear your challenge, I can picture how to help. I feel drawn to back you up. That’s the foundation of real partnership at work. 𝟯. It increases mutual understanding. Sometimes we feel disconnected from teammates because we don’t know what they actually do all day. When someone shares a challenge, it opens a window into their work and the complexity they’re navigating. If you’re short on time, allergic to fluff, and want something that actually bonds your team—this is your move. Ten minutes, and you’ll feel the shift."

Trust doesn't come from your accomplishments. It comes from quiet moves like these: For years I thought I needed more experience, achievements, and wins to earn trust. But real trust isn't built through credentials. It's earned in small moments, consistent choices, and subtle behaviors that others notice - even when you think they don't. Here are 15 quiet moves that instantly build trust 👇🏼 1. You close open loops, catching details others miss ↳ Send 3-bullet wrap-ups after meetings. Reliability builds. 2. You name tension before it gets worse ↳ Name what you sense: "The energy feels different today" 3. You speak softly in tense moments ↳ Lower your tone slightly when making key points. Watch others lean in. 4. You stay calm when others panic, leading with stillness ↳ Take three slow breaths before responding. Let your calm spread. 5. You make space for quiet voices ↳ Ask "What perspective haven't we heard yet?", then wait. 6. You remember and reference what others share ↳ Keep a Key Details note for each relationship in your phone. 7. You replace "but" with "and" to keep doors open ↳ Practice "I hear you, and here's what's possible" 8. You show up early with presence and intention ↳ Close laptop, turn phone face down 2 minutes before others arrive. 9. You speak up for absent team members ↳ Start with "X made an important point about this last week" 10. You turn complaints into possibility ↳ Replace "That won't work" with "Let's experiment with..." 11. You build in space for what really matters ↳ Block 10 min buffers between meetings. Others will follow. 12. You keep small promises to build trust bit by bit ↳ Keep a "promises made" note in your phone. Track follow-through. 13. You protect everyone's time, not just your own ↳ End every meeting 5 minutes early. Set the standard. 14. You ask questions before jumping to fixes ↳ Lead with "What have you tried so far?" before suggesting solutions. 15. You share credit for wins and own responsibility for misses ↳ Use "we" for successes, "I" for challenges. Watch trust grow. Your presence speaks louder than your resume. Trust is earned in these quiet moments. Which move will you practice first? Share below 👇🏼 -- ♻️ Repost to help your network build authentic trust without the struggle 🔔 Follow me Dr. Carolyn Frost for more strategies on leading with quiet impact

A few weeks ago, a friend messaged me. She had just started a new role as VP of Marketing at a Series B startup. From the outside, it looked like a big win. Great company. Exciting product. But she was already drowning. No onboarding. No strategy. A CEO asking for results now. And an inbox full of cold pitches from people who saw her LinkedIn update and pounced. She said, “I just wish someone had said congrats and asked if I needed anything” That stuck with me. In B2B, we’ve trained ourselves to treat these moments like lead scores. - Someone changes jobs? Sell to them. - Company raises money? Sell to them. - They visit your pricing page? Definitely sell to them. Clay just launched a feature called Signals that tracks all of those moments. Job changes. Fundraising. Site visits. New tech in the stack. Hiring trends. Etc. Most teams will use it to go faster. More outreach. More pipeline. That’s fine. But there’s a better way. Use signals to actually show up well. To build trust before there’s even a sales conversation. Here’s how: → Job change: Don’t pitch. Just say congrats or share something helpful for a new leader. → Funding news: Offer insight, not a deck. What might they be walking into? Where do they need support? → Tech added: Send something relevant. Help them get more out of the tools they already chose. → Hiring surge: They’re likely buried. Be useful. Be brief. We’re doing this ourselves. We built a Clay table of past buyers who brought in Refine Labs. Marketers who know how we work. Then we track the signals: → Who just landed somewhere new? → Who’s hiring? → Who joined a company that raised a round? We’re not blasting them. We’re waiting for the right moment to reconnect - with context. Sometimes it’s a congrats. Sometimes it’s a helpful resource. Sometimes it’s just being there. Because these aren’t just leads. They’re relationships. This is brand. Not logos and taglines. It’s how you show up when nobody’s watching. Signals give you awareness. But presence is what builds trust. And trust is what compounds. Use signals to see people. Not just to sell to them. Clay can help. #claypartner

Here’s the best networking advice I’ve ever heard: Don’t wait until you need something to reach out. Networking shouldn’t feel like a business transaction. It’s about showing up for people —consistently and authentically. Relationships thrive on genuine, consistent effort. And I’ve seen these 7 strategies open doors I didn’t even know existed: 1️⃣ Be Real ↳ Show genuine curiosity. Approach with sincerity and a desire to help. People can sense authenticity a mile away, and it’s the key to meaningful connections. 2️⃣ Celebrate Their Wins ↳ Recognize their milestones: promotions, new ventures, even personal achievements. A simple "Congrats!" goes a long way and keeps you on their radar in a positive way. 3️⃣ Engage on Social Media ↳ Drop a comment or DM your contacts when you see their posts. Even better—send them posts or articles you think they'd appreciate. It's about showing you care. 4️⃣ Catch-Up Chats ↳ Every so often, suggest a casual coffee (virtual or in-person). No agenda needed. Just connect and strengthen that relationship over time. 5️⃣ Quick Notes ↳ Send a short, friendly check-in message. Mention a recent achievement they posted or something relevant you came across. Takes three minutes, tops. 6️⃣ Share Relevant Content ↳ Found something that could help or inspire them? Share it! (For example, “Hey, this AI tool reminded me of your project...”) 7️⃣ Track and Follow Up ↳ Use a system—spreadsheet, CRM, anything, to stay organized. Life gets busy, but connections matter. Overwhelmed? I get it. I felt that way too. So I started small, three quick interactions a week. It’s manageable and works wonders over time. The truth is, networking is not a "when you need it" thing. It's about being human and building trust. Try it and watch opportunities start showing up. P.S. What’s one way you’ve built meaningful connections in your professional life? Photo Credit: Colby Kultgen — If this resonates, give it a share. ♻ And follow Sandra Pellumbi for more. 🦉

I accepted a LinkedIn connection request, and within 10 seconds, my inbox pinged:    “Hi, I noticed you’re in business development at Klika. We specialize in B2B solutions tailored to help businesses like yours scale effectively.  Can we set up a call to discuss how we can help your business grow?"    …Ouch.    This is the networking equivalent of walking up to someone at a party and saying, “So, want to buy something from me?” before even introducing yourself.    Networking isn’t a cold transaction, it’s a warm conversation.    Here’s what would’ve worked better for me:    1️⃣ Show genuine interest: Comment on a recent post or share a thoughtful insight about my work.    2️⃣ Personalize the message: Reference something specific about my company or role that shows you did your homework.    3️⃣ Play the long game: Building trust takes time. Engage meaningfully before asking for a meeting. When you rush, you miss the opportunity to actually connect.    Take a moment to pause before you hit send.    The result? Better conversations. Stronger connections. And maybe, just maybe, a meeting that’s actually worth having. #businessdevelopment #networking #business