While many people view networking as a helpful activity for one’s career, few feel fully comfortable with the actions and behaviors necessary to yield success in building the relationships. Networking, when done appropriately and consistently, can yield effective interactions and a pathway for upward professional mobility. After all, it focuses on building relationships, promoting interactions between people to recognize, create, or act upon opportunities, as well as to share information.
Despite this, it is very common to find that networking carries a negative connotation with some people. Fear of being labeled as a self-promoter or ‘schmoozer’, along with coming across as an overly confident and bragging-type person serve as reasons why people choose not to network often, let alone well. There are ways to build strong relationships with others in your professional circles yet avoid the presence of a self-serving agenda. Here are key areas to consider when thinking about how to network effectively:
Author: Mary Despe, LIGS University Lecturer