Networking: What in the World is it?

I was speaking with a client earlier this week about networking when she confessed to me that she didn’t actually understand what it is, or how to do it.

I like to think of networking as making new connections and fostering old ones, for the purpose of furthering your personal and professional growth and development. Sometimes networking can be formal, like getting drinks, going to an event, or chatting in the break room at work. Other times it’s more casual, like here on LinkedIn!

I think the term networking has been watered down in the last few years; it used to be something important and highly regarded, and now it’s seen more as something that’s meaningless, or irritating to engage in. I’ll also acknowledge that COVID made things a lot harder - it’s tough to network when you’re standing 6 feet apart, working remotely, or wearing a mask!

Ultimately, if I could share anything with my clients, and my wonderful LinkedIn community about networking it’s this: don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Looking silly, being ignored, or being told no is far better than wondering “What if I’d just put myself out there?”

Reach out. Talk to people. Leave a comment.

You never know what might happen!

Want to start networking now?

Drop a comment down below, and let’s see if we can support each other!