Here’s some FFT (Food For Thought):
I think the most difficult part of networking is that they should stop calling it ‘networking.’
When people say or think “I have to network,” or “I’m going to networking function,” it has a negative aura about it. They feel like they are putting themselves out there and could be perceived as selfish or manipulative.
They might think, “Oh, I have to go hand out business cards, and I have to go collect business cards,” then dutifully write my “caring – feeling” form letter after I’ve met with them. (OK, you can laugh.) That’s enough to make you never want to network again.
That’s why I think should just throw the whole term out. It sounds like a process rather than a beneficial activity.
Instead, let’s view it this way: build relationships one at a time. Building relationships has a positive ring to it. Networking sounds like work.
If you go to a [networking] function, and you have a really good conversation with one person for 15 minutes, that’s in my view much more important, much better than collecting 15 business cards and sending a form letter afterwards, don’t you agree?
Stop thinking ‘networking’ – and start thinking ‘relationship building.’ See how that works for ya!
