Rethink Networking

July 2023

I was talking to my husband the other day about how uncomfortable I am networking. He looked at me really puzzled and told me that he thought it was one of my strengths.  His feedback really surprised me and it sparked a conversation about what defines networking.

Like most people, I am not comfortable walking into a conference, meeting room, or large event with a mission to interact with as many people as possible in order to ask them for something I need. As we talked about how we each defined networking, he highlighted that I am good at developing and fostering relationships with people who cross my path along the way.

I tend to develop relationships with people I find interesting, people who intrigue me, or whom I respect and admire. I develop relationships in smaller groups and often, those relationships last a lifetime.

The more we talked about it, the more I realized that networking doesn’t need to be an intimidating word and that it's really about building professional relationships that turn into friendships. It doesn't always have to be about immediate gain but building long-term relationships. Be the person who offers a helping hand when others need it, and in time, you'll find people are there for you when you need support.

So, when it comes to networking, I encourage you to shift your perspective and see networking as a pathway to create meaningful, long-lasting relationships.