For clarification:
According to Wikipedia:
Networking consists of exchanging information and establishing personal connections. People network in many different settings: on the telephone, in hallways, in company lunchrooms, at professional conferences, at trade shows, company meetings, classrooms, lounges, hallways, elevators, airplanes, trains, busses, hotel lobbies and waiting rooms. Some networking is carefully planned and some just happens. Networking is friendly, low-key and essential in our complex society. People network to: advance their careers, advance their own business, to increase their impact on the world and to improve their social lives.
A simple Google search for “business networking” returns about 260 million pages.
It would seem that it is one of the most convenient and low-effort, high-return activities to help us in our careers. If you think about it, everything you do can be considered “networking” in some way.
Yet, why is it so scary? And why do so many take a very passive approach to it? Why is there still the misconception that it is something you have to turn on and off, that you should do it when actively seeking a new job or career change, but not when you’re currently employed?
What doesn’t seem to be getting through is this: if you don’t start making connections and forming relationships whenever you possibly can, you’ll be starting from zero if and when something unforseen causes the loss of your oh-so-comfy job.
Here’s the networking secret: You must give in order to receive. It’s fairly simple. Be thoughtful and considerate, and people will want to help you. If you’ve willingly given without being asked, you’ll feel a little less scared when it comes time to make a request.
I know I’ve mentioned before, it takes work. But there are many resources and groups and people to help you: books, organizations and associations, blogs and periodicals…
Diane Darling and Soni Dimond give presentations, wrote books, and coach professionals and entrepreneurs on how to be more effective at networking; they’ve made a career out of it!
Any suggestions from the networking newbies, or the super-connectors?
