Last week, I attended a networking event. Networking is a big word in business school. Just like my mother’s cure-all herbal teas, networking is spoken about like the cure to any ailment.
I believe networking can be useful, if we only know what it really is. Chances are that if you ask someone what networking is, they will say something like, “You know, networking.” Not very enlightening, right?
I think that the first problem with networking is the actual word. I would prefer something like netbuilding. After all, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish: to build a network of people who want to see us succeed and who will be available for help, advice, contacts and good wishes.
Although the word “work” is not part of netbuilding, it does require some effort. Keith Ferrazzi in his book “Never Eat Alone” (which I recommend as a good and informational read) talks about keeping track of everyone he knows in order to make sure he contacts each person at least once a year, and also calls them on their birthdays.
Netbuilding should come naturally by meeting people and nourishing the relationship for years. But these relationships should not be phony and grounded in self-interest; instead they should develop from genuine interest in who our connections are, what they need, and how we can help them. Netbuilding is about making everyone in our network better off, not just us.
Netbuilding, or for that matter, networking, is not a quick fix; it’s not something that we can just pick up and do when we’re looking for a job. Netbuilding is a way of life that must be followed and perfected over the years. It might sound like a lot of work, but it sure sounds better than pushing your business cards to dozens of strangers in a crowded room, while drinking cheap wine at yet another networking event.
Real Thoughts 