If you’re like me, you might feel the “ick” when the topic of networking comes up, especially when someone is telling you how important it is to your professional success.
It might bring to mind the “good ol boys” concept where unless you know the right people, your merits and effort don’t mean much. Or, the ick you feel might be because networking sounds like one big game of manipulation and using others for another’s gain, so you’ve avoided it completely.
These are the things that I used to think and while these points of view ring true in some places, I’m here to offer an alternative point of view. One that just might change your mind about “networking.”
Last year I ventured down the road of entrepreneurship when I purchased a portion of the company I worked for and put up my shingle. Because I was now the main one to bring in business, I knew I had to get out there to meet people and tell them what I did.
And I did, begrudgingly.
I was very nervous walking into my first networking event. The thought that all the other people and I were just here for their own gain gave it a high-pressure feel with an undertone of quid-pro-quo. I could already smell the sales breath wafting out to door, my own contributing to it!
But all of that went away when I started to engage with the people there. The majority of the people there didn’t start the conversation by asking me what I did in exchange for telling me what they did with a sales pitch attached.
They asked me about me. I asked them about them. Friendships and “connections” were formed, sans a sales pitch. And it was pretty fun and interesting! This allowed me to let go of my perception that it was all a master manipulation game, to quit the game myself, and just connect with people.
And, while it didn’t happen right away (sometimes it never did), with this as the foundation, SO many opportunities started to present themselves down the road that was not directly tied to new clients or “sales.” To name a few…
I had new hiking buddies
There were more familiar faces at the following events
I got to be in a commercial for our local mall
New ideas and perspectives were offered to me
I was introduced to a woman who runs a non-profit for female first responders and veterans and was able to contribute to the development of their Emotional Recovery Program
I swapped improv classes for my services
I was invited to join a mastermind to help me grow professionally
Myself and another coach developed a women’s program
I was invited to speak at a few b2b groups
I found confidants who understood the challenges of running your own business
I was nominated and accepted to be on the board for Bozeman Professional Women
And yes, I did meet people who would eventually become my clients or who knew someone and referred them to me, but as you can see, there was SO much more!
As you can see, there are a lot of opportunities that come with networking that go above and beyond making a sale or climbing the next rung on the corporate ladder.
It doesn’t have to be high-pressure. It doesn’t even have to be at “networking” events! It’s just meeting, connecting with people, building relationships, and creating community.
At the end of a recent executive session I facilitated for a Fortune 500 company, the leader took the opportunity to address concerns about the new in-office mandates his direct reports (and their direct reports) weren’t too pleased about. While discussing the value of being in person, he mentioned something about the opportunity of networking that struck me. He said not only does being in the office and socializing with others allow you to connect with people in other areas of the organization (and potentially help them in their own role), but you never know who your next boss might be!
And that's not to say you have to be in an office to network, either. In fact, for those of us who work from home, networking events provide the chance to mingle and connect, too.
So, the next time you have the chance to go to a networking event, go! You never know what opportunities might come from being in community with others, if only to meet someone new.
As you can see, there are a lot of opportunities that come with networking that go above and beyond making a sale or climbing the next rung on the corporate ladder.
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