Therapy can be an isolating profession. As a massage therapist, you probably spend hours working on your own. Even on a busy day, your work will mostly involve filling paperwork, seeing a host of clients and then heading home.
That’s not to mean that the work of a therapist is boring or uninteresting. It just means that the private nature of the profession can get you in a routine that seriously limits your interaction with other professionals.
Networking is one of the best ways to get out of this cycle and start making valuable connections outside of the office; friends who can help you find new clients and significantly boost your business. The following are five ways networking can benefit you as a person and even your business;
- Combat loneliness
You don’t have to be alone to feel lonely. When all you every day is attend to clients with whom you can’t discuss issues beyond the scope of business, you’re essentially lonely. You can’t live a wholesome life that way. You need to have people you can connect with at a personal level; people you want to share your deepest thoughts with. Networking allows you to meet people with whom you share common interests, thus open your gates to excitement and happiness.
- Learn about new developments
Most massage therapists spend the entire day within the confines of the office. The only time you move is when collecting documents or materials from one room to another – but within the office. Such minimal movement and contact puts you at risk missing out on developments in the industry. Through networking, you’ll be able to learn about developments within and outside the industry. For instance, you’ll keep abreast with technology, massage insurance, and trends in general.
- Earn new clients
This applies to both new and older practices. Competition in the industry is at an all-time high. Today, most practices focus on keeping the clients they have rather than earning new clients because competition for new contacts is sky-high. Networking can help you earn new customers. Once you develop a close relationship with your contacts, you’ll be able to find new clients through them.
- Discover new career opportunities
The fact that you’re currently a massage therapist doesn’t mean you can’t consider other career opportunities. Your skill set and talents can be used to serve the community in many other ways. For instance, you can be a writer or even a consultant. You can also become a speaker at events within the industry. Networking has proven to be one of the best ways to discover such new opportunities.
- Collaboration
Finally, networking can also open avenues for collaboration. It’s likely that you will meet complementary professionals within the industry such as chiropractors and other alternative medicine practice owners. You can then sit down and combine your skills and experiences to the benefit of both parties.
So, as you can see, it’s vital that you begin networking and grow your networks at every opportunity. Professionals gain a lot from these relationships.
