Your Networking Strategy when Everyone’s on Holiday

It all slows down in July and August, whether you’re personally on the school holidays treadmill or not. Fewer appointments in the diary, tumbleweed in your inbox, and half your contacts seem to be “out of office” – plus many networking meetings pause over summer as well, as ours do. But your personal networking doesn’t have to stop for the break. There are still plenty of opportunities to keep at it, and this can be one of the most valuable times to strengthen your network in ways that are harder to do when everyone is rushing from meeting to meeting. So here are a few tips for making the most of the summer slowdown. 

Rather than focusing on volume of networking and covering lots of ground, July and August are the perfect times to work on depth with some of the one-to-ones you’ve been meaning to have. With fewer formal events and less pressure on their schedules, people are often more open to them: maybe a coffee catch-up, a walk-and-talk, or even 15 minutes online. They all feel a bit more doable when there’s less pressure on the diary, and they are such valuable chances to talk more about what you do, and how you might be able to help each other, or people you know. 

 

You don’t need a diary that’s packed with in-person events to stay visible. Social media becomes an especially useful tool during quieter periods. Again, quality over quantity is the key, and you may find you’ve got more time to give to it than usual. Share a short insight, comment on others’ updates, or even post a quick “how’s everyone’s summer going?” message – it will all keep you present in people’s minds. 

 

The slower summer months offer something else that busier months rarely do: space, to think and reflect on the year so far, and make any adjustments that will help you reach your goals for the coming months. It’s an ideal time to confirm your intentions for the second half of the year, and to make sure the networking you do – at events, online, and in 1-1s – is right for achieving them. When was the last time you reviewed your networking strategy properly? Are you connecting with the right people? This is your chance to give it some thought and plan what you’d like to do when things pick up again in the autumn. 

 

Perhaps you want to attend new events, strengthen a particular partnership, or become more consistent in your follow-ups. With fewer immediate demands in the summer, you can plan a little more rather than reacting to a packed schedule. 

 

Quieter periods are just as important as the busy ones. They allow for more personal conversations, and time to take a step back. Without the usual time pressures, you can really get to know people - their challenges, goals, and what matters to them. These are the conversations that build trust, and trust is what turns contacts into meaningful connections.  

 

So instead of writing July and August off as “slow months,” use them a strategic ones. Keep things light, stay visible, and focus on quality over quantity. Good, productive networking is about staying consistent, even when it’s quiet - and so often, I have found, it’s in these quieter moments that inspiration strikes and the most valuable relationships begin to grow.