First, to be clear, it is indisputable that one of the Vital Behaviors for living a fulfilling, flourishing life is “Networking”. No doubt on that fact. Networking is not optional anymore; it is a crucial skill to master.
Oh no! you say. More advice about beating the bushes and making contacts! Calling everybody I know… and everybody they know… and everybody they know…to develop a database of people in the know.
Whew. Might Sound like fun to some people. To others it sounds like a disease you try to avoid.
That is actually how I felt about networking…until I was taught what networking is really about. We talk a lot about networking when we are trying to find a job or navigate a career change. Your network is important for that, to be sure. But it is much, much more.
As Pablo Picasso said,
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
Wow! Networking is really all about discovering the best way to give your gift away.
Networking is not about developing baskets full of contacts; it is about creating and nourishing relationships. Every study out there that looks at fulfillment in life and achieving total wellbeing identifies social relationships and social connections as the essential currency and distinguishing factor that determines if we live a life of suffering or achieve a life full of vibrancy and total wellbeing.
President of the Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac, Alana Muller describes in her book on mastering networking, Coffee, Lunch, Coffee, that the process of networking means the following:
“…Networking is really just a term for connecting with other people, about establishing community, about deepening one’s sense of belonging.”
So, as we begin to view networking—not as a mere process of exchanging business cards, bragging about yourself or begging for help from people you barely know—we begin to see networking as described by marketing guru Seth Godin, when he wrote that networking is,
“About helping people achieve their goals, reliably, and repeatedly, so that over time, they have an interest in helping you achieve your goals.”
Again, networking helps you achieve your goal and your purpose—to “give your gifts away.” You’re also helping others achieve their purpose of finding a place where their gifts might make a difference.
It is important, and of incalculable value, that we take some time to be intentional and strategic about our networking responsibility. We are in a race to meet and engage everyone in our path, as we search to give our gift away and live that life of fulfillment and vibrancy. We bless the journey when we understand the networking process for its true power and meaning.
Like all intentional efforts, productive networking needs a plan. A good resource for putting together your networking plan is Alana Mueller’s book:
Coffee, Lunch, Coffee.
http://www.coffeelunchcoffee.com
Or begin by watching the link to the attached video from networking professional and Rutgers Adjunct Professor, Michael Goldberg:
The important thing is to be intentional, strategic and consistent.
A specific networking plan will identify a proactive approach for meeting people with strategies on where to go and what to say. This networking plan may point in different directions: You may be developing a business.…you may be trying to land that perfect job…you may be trying to learn something to enhance your gift…you may be trying to meet like-minded peers, friends and social acquaintances…you may be searching to solve a problem that has become a roadblock or hindrance. Regardless, as you focus on your purpose in life and giving your gift away, there is much to network about.