Are You A Taker?

Aug 25, 2024
Networking

Are You A Taker?

 

Hello Friends,

I'm back in full swing with speaking engagements at graduate school programs as their Fall semesters have kicked-off. A topic that is instrumental in my workshops is networking. What's interesting is how little professionals understand how to correctly network. The biggest issue I see is when professionals are tunnel-visioned into thinking that networking is asking their contacts to help for income related help (whether that's a job, or a referral to sell their services). Unfortunately, that's not what networking is. Asking for something can be a result of effective networking, but it's not the definition of networking.

 

My Definition of Networking

Let's start with this: networking is NOT collecting contact information to keep in your back pocket to use when you need something.

Networking is relationships. It is a long-term play. There are multiple touchpoints in building a relationship. So, when you do connect with someone, you must exert effort in getting to know each other.

If we can use friendships as an analogy, it takes time to get to know one another. Once known to each other, there might be days, weeks and sometimes months where you don't connect because life can get in the way. However, the next time you meet, the relationship continues without skipping a beat. The same goes for networking: There is upfront work that does not need to continue forever; but you still must have touchpoints with your network throughout the year to foster and nurture that relationship.

 

Don't Be A Taker

I often hear stories of professionals asking for a job or referral every time they connect with someone new. This is what we call a "Taker". If we look at the perspective of the taker, their emotional state is wanting something right away, usually because it is the need for income (a basic necessity to survive). Therefore, when there is pressure to survive, it's normal for the "taker" to lack patience.

Here's the perspective I try to provide the "takers". When you connect with someone that can potentially help you, the relationship is very fragile. Wrong moves early on will burn the bridge. Therefore, if impatience can result in a wrong move, then finding a solution for survival will never arrive. In other words, it's either taking a month or two for a result versus never getting a result because of impatience.

As you connect with new people, see how you can be helpful to them. It can be as small as complimenting their social media posts, or sending them articles on topics that you may have discussed when you first met, to overtly offering them a direct question: "How can I help you?" These gestures of "giving" will solidify the new relationship in a more meaningful way.

Don't overcomplicate the process. Patience is the key!

Have great rest of the week.

Thank you and have a great week ahead.

 


 

If you are interested in improving your speaking, communication skills and confidence, schedule a call with me or learn more about communication coaching here.

 


 

Thought Of The Week

A weekly thought to meditate, ruminate, and/or ponder on:

 

“Patience is not simply the ability to wait – it's how we behave while we're waiting.”

 

- Joyce Meyer

 


 

 

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