Are you the person who is exchanging connections and commenting on other people’s posts on LinkedIn to increase professional networking? Yes, you are doing it correctly, but there is another easy and fun method to increase professional networking. 

Professional networking is very important in this fast-paced world. But in online, there will be no personal touch. If you want to build genuine and real professional networks, the best way, which is often overlooked, is through recreational events. 

Yes, you heard it right, having fun can actually help build your career. In this blog, we will explore how recreational events can help build more professional networks and how you can search for and join these recreational events. 

Before we move further, first let us understand what professional networking means

What is professional networking? 

Professional networking means building and maintaining the relationships with the people from your industry or field. These connections can help you find new job opportunities, learn new skills and even grow your business. 

This is like having professional friends outside of your workspace, from whom you can learn more about their experiences or hire them or outsource work to them or even join their organization through referral. 

While traditional methods like seminars and conferences help in professional networking, they often feel stressful and formal. But recreational activities offer a relaxed and enjoyable way to connect with others. 

How recreational activities boost professional networking:

1. Break the Ice Naturally: 

If you attend a seminar or conference, walking inside a room full of strangers can be a bit awkward or scary. But during recreational activities, everyone will be focused on enjoying themselves, whether it be playing a game like golf, hiking a mountain or taking a cooking class. This makes it natural to start talking. No awkward small talk needed.

2. Helps you build real trust:

To have genuine relationships, trust is the key. People will trust you more if they see the other version of you, rather than just the working version. In recreational activities, you will be teaming up or playing against others or cheering on each other. These moments create bonds that become more than just professional networks.

3. Takes the stress out of networking:

Networking can be very hectic, especially if you are shy. But when you are doing something fun like yoga or a game night, the pressure disappears. People are more relaxed and happier, which makes it easier to chat and build real connections. 

4. Teamwork makes the dream work:

Many fun activities, like sports or puzzles, require teamwork. Working together helps you learn the networking skills like how to communicate, solve problems and support each other. These skills aren’t just limited to the office but help you connect with others on a deeper level. 

5. Makes unforgettable:

People forget formal events like seminars or conferences easily. But the events where they had fun and enjoyed themselves, they will remember them. That’s human psychology. If you share such fun moments with people, they will remember you much longer. 

Examples of recreational activities for professional networking: 

Here are some ideas for recreational activities that can help you with professional networking: 

Sports and fitness activities: you can join a soccer league, attend a yoga class or go for a mountain hike. 

Creative workshops: You can participate in painting, pottery or cooking classes with colleagues or with others from your industry. 

Volunteer Events: Participate in community services like beach cleanups or food drives. 

Game nights: You can host a board game or trivia or join video game nights. 

Outdoor activities: You can plan a weekend camping trip or a day at the beach. 

You have a variety of options to increase professional networking through recreational activities. But finding the places and activities can be a bit difficult. But don’t worry; we have got the best solution for you, and that is ‘Play-pal.’

Why is Play-Pal  the best for professional networking?

Play-pal is the platform that is changing the way of professional networking and making it more fun and easy to connect with other people through recreational activities. 

Play-pal isn’t just another networking app. It’s a community where you can meet like-minded professionals, bond with shared interests and grow your career, all while having fun. Here’s why play-pal stands out: 

Meet people with similar interests: Tired of awkward small talk at networking events? Play-pal connects you with professionals who share similar interests. Whether it’s hiking, cooking or trivia nights. It’s networking without the awkwardness!

Fun activities just for you: Play-pal uses smart AI to recommend activities and events that match your interests and career goals. So that every connection you make is meaningful, and every experience is something you’ll actually enjoy.

Find and join events easily: With Play-pal’s easy-to-use platform, finding, organizing and joining events is very simple. Want to host a team-building workshop or join a local yoga class? Play-pal makes it simple. 

Keep your team happy: If you are HR, then Play-pal is the perfect platform to keep your employees engaged and happy. With a variety of activities and games to choose from, you can improve teamwork and even increase productivity all while having fun. 

Conclusion:

Professional networking doesn’t have to be boring or stressful. By incorporating recreational activities into your networking strategy, you can build stronger, more meaningful connections while having fun.

Whether it’s through sports, creative workshops, or outdoor adventures, these shared experiences can help you stand out and create lasting relationships in your industry. 

So., next time you are thinking about networking, consider changing the formal event for a fun activity. And the best and easiest platform to find and join is Play-pal. 

Visit our website to start your fun networking journey: https://www.play-pal.io