People seem to hate networking. I often hear it takes too much energy, feels icky, and is too sales-y. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, I have not heard as much about in-person networking events. Even networking on LinkedIn is met with an eye roll.
I want to ask—do we now hate building relationships and think we can do everything alone?
That is exactly what I take away when I hear pushback about networking.
Networking is simply the process of making connections and building relationships. So, when I hear a rejection of networking, I hear a rejection of building relationships.
Except I do not believe we mean to push back on building relationships. In an increasingly connected world, we are more disconnected and lonelier than probably ever. I sense a tension caused by dissonance.
On one hand, we crave meaningful human connection. We want to be seen and to see others. Our brains and bodies are wired to connect with others. We have the capacity for empathy and even mirror the body language of others. (Have you ever yawned when someone else yawns? How about laughing when someone else laughs even without you knowing the joke? Ever tear up watching a movie? Those are examples of empathy and mirroring.)
On the other hand, we want to reject the process of building relationships. We avoid people. We unnecessarily struggle through problems and do not reach out for help. We ignore phone calls and consider it too much effort to start and carry a conversation.
But we are meant for connection. We need it.
Without relationships, we cannot be effective leaders, executives, and professionals. Without connection, we cannot build and sustain the trust foundational to organizational health, team member wellness, and high performance.
The issue may be the meaning we assign to the word “networking.” What if we remember that networking is relationship-building? Might that help us see the energy we put into relationship building as an investment into others and ourselves?
Maybe “networking” needs a rebrand.
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The topic of the August newsletter, coming soon, is Networking.
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