If there’s anything being on this professional journey has shown me it is that networking is key. What they say is true, your net worth is your network. It’s legitimately one of the first pieces of advice I received during my law school orientation. It gave me anxiety then too. What does it even mean to network? Like how? For so long networking in my mind meant walking up to a complete stranger, unpacking your entire life’s story into a 1 minute pitch, and hoping at the end of the interaction there was some benefit on the other side i.e. a job. Anyone else? Just me? Cool.
Networking is just relationships and a series of conversations over time.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that networking is a skill that many of us already possess, we’ve just never exercised it in the professional sense. Your ability to foster new relationships and nurture them along the way is a testament to your networking ability. Just like any other relationship, over time you begin and continue to exchange beneficial information to one another. You help each other solve problems and make recommendations.
Networking can look a bit different for men and women.
It usually more beneficial for women to not only have connections, but a strong tribe as well. The tribe is key for women honestly because we tend to benefit more from circles that we have an established trust in. You’re more likely to receive private information that helps you out in the practical sense. Women are more likely to be candid with other women about the workplace environment, how much pay they receive, and how things ‘really’ are. I most certainly can testify to this in my both my legal and blogging profession.
So how do you reap the benefits of networking?
The answer is simple. Change your mind about networking. Your idea of networking is probably worse than the actual experience. It’s normal. But instead, try to look at networking you get to as a part of your role in promoting your brand (you) or business instead of something you have to do as a means to an end!
Today, start by making a list of all the reason why you DON’T want to network. For example, “I don’t have anything to wear. I’m not sure how to introduce myself. I don’t know what I really want.” After you have your list, reframe every item and add the word, YET at the end. Then start brainstorming your solution. You’ve now shifted your mind from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Good things happen when you grow!
XOXO