How to Network Without the Icky Feeling

What images comes to mind when you hear the word ‘networking’? For many, it stirs up images of awkward small talk in conference meeting rooms as you tell people how to find you on LinkedIn. It can certainly be uncomfortable ─ especially if you are a more introverted individual. In a recent discussion on interviewing, the speaker suggests that we focus on creating meaningful connections rather than engaging in transactional exchanges. She discusses ways we can shift our mindsets and take practical steps to build a professional network that feels authentic — and even enjoyable. Suggestions include approaching situations thinking about how you can be helpful to others rather than wondering what you can get out of each interaction; asking thoughtful questions to discover hopes, dreams, and goals of those you speak with so that you know how to be helpful to them; and following-up in a thoughtful manner within 24 hours after meeting someone. The presenter concludes by asserting the idea that “networking doesn’t have to be dreadful or transactional. If we think of networking as building long-term relationships rather than one-time interactions, we’re more likely to build a network that’s both meaningful and fulfilling.”

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