“I hate networking.”
I hear this phrase when working with clients all too frequently, and it’s usually accompanied by the person claiming they’re not good at networking and need to find a way around it because it’s simply not going to work for them.
I get it. I’ve also been that person dreading going to professional mixers or after-work drinks, not knowing how to get out of a conversation that seems to drag on a little too long, and feeling like I’m imposing on someone or have nothing interesting to say.
It took me years to realize that I had networking all wrong. As the name suggests, networking is simply about developing a network. It’s not about being a social butterfly or maximizing the number of networking events you attend. It’s about cultivating two-way, trust-based work relationships. And that, anyone, can do. It’s also probably the single most powerful force, outside of actual expertise, that can influence your career—so you’ll want to learn to embrace it.
Here are four common misconceptions people have about networking:
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