I put a stake in the ground and declared that networking is a critical life skill. Knowing how to navigate life in a relationship economy will not only enrich your life, it will also provide, hands down, the best ROI. Ever. (If you missed the last post you can grab it here.)
Despite this, myths and misconceptions about networking perpetuate. (You’ve already heard me talk about one, “I’m not looking for a job, so I don’t need to network.” This statement makes my hair hurt.)
Here are three more myths that may be standing in your way of increasing your social capital and tapping into the vast power that building a network has to offer.
- I don’t like to impose on people.
- I’m not good at it. (Or, I don’t know how to.)
- I don’t have time.
Let’s break these down and reframe them, shall we?
1. I don’t like to impose on people. → Reframe: Networking is building relationships.
First off, by assuming you’re imposing on someone, you’ve put yourself in a box before you’ve even started. In the last 18 years of proactively networking, I have had exactly one person say “No.” when I asked for a meeting.
Virtually everyone you ask to meet with is going to say “Yes.” They may say they can’t meet for another month, they may only offer you 15-minutes of their time, but more than likely, they will agree to connect with you. Why? Because most people want to help.
Second, if you don’t ask for a meeting because you’re afraid to impose, you’ve made a decision for someone else without their input. People know how to self-manage. They’ll let you know if it’s an imposition.
I invite you to think about networking as yet one more opportunity to build connections.
2. I’m not good at it. → Reframe: You are good at it. (And you do know how.)
I debunked this notion last week but it bears repeating because so many people have inaccurate definitions of what networking really is. It is definitively not schmoozing at events, connecting with as many people as possible on social media, or passing out your business card. See #1. It’s building relationships. This means connecting with others, finding common ground, and maintaining those connections in some fashion. You do this all the time in many areas of your life. Networking is an opportunity to apply this skill in a different context.
How have you successfully built relationships in the past? What positive impact could this have for you in a business context?
3. I don’t have time. → Reframe: We Live in a Relationship Economy. Make the time.
There is a difference between having time and making time. Do you have time to run out to Starbucks for your daily Pumpkin Spiced Latte? Yes, you do. Because you love PSL, you need the caffeine boost, or running to the closest Starbucks is more enjoyable than whatever else was on your to-do list today. Whatever your reason, you’ve prioritized it.
The same holds true for networking. When you know why you’re networking, and you’ve found the way to network that suits you (more on this in a future newsletter!), making the time becomes much easier. It starts with shifting your mindset about networking and its importance in your life.
What activities do you routinely make time for? How could you make time for networking?
Here is a networking resource for you: Give and Take. This was Adam Grant’s first book and it’s a quick read. In it, he talks about three types of networkers – Givers, Takers, and Matchers – and the benefits and downsides of each.
