3 Myths You Need to Stop Believing About Networking

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of networking? 

Awkward? Uncomfortable? Scary?

Networking is one of those things you know you need to do, but often have no clue where to start. Or if you do start, you immediately feel like you’d like to exit the building, curl up in a ball and rewatch seasons 1, 2 & 3 of This Is Us. Amiright?!

But instead, let’s flip the script on what networking actually is. Instead of thinking of it as some necessary evil, let’s position it as an activity that – when done correctly – can catapult our careers in the right direction. 

Because at its core, networking is just mutually beneficial professional relationships developed over time.

It doesn’t have to be scary. Rather, it can be community-focused, invigorating, and an opportunity-driver. 

Here are three other myths you may be believing about networking.

NETWORKING MYTH #1: YOU HAVE TO GO TO NETWORKING EVENTS TO NETWORK

As a career coach, people expect me to love networking groups. Friends, I love to network, but I loathe going to networking events. To me, networking isn’t an event.

Networking happens in the middle of the day at a coffee shop, in your bible studies, and at your regular workplaces. You don’t need to wait for a work happy hour to connect with people. See, when you get your posture correct on the purpose of networking – building intentional relationships – it becomes a lot more fun and a lot less nerve-wracking. 

Practical Tip: Reach out to someone from your alumni network via LinkedIn to catch up with next week via the phone. Or, you could ask a coworker from a different department to grab lunch, so you can both learn what the other does for the company!

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