Professional Networking - True Purpose, Benefits, and Myths

"Your network is your net worth" – Porter Gale

In today's interconnected world, your network is truly your net worth. The ability to build and maintain professional relationships can be the difference between a stagnant career and one filled with growth, opportunities, and fulfillment. Yet, for many, the concept of networking remains shrouded in misconceptions and anxiety. Let’s demystify networking and reveal its true nature and immense potential for your career.

Intentional Networking Is All About Relationships

At its core, networking is not about collecting business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. As Michele Jennae aptly put it, "Networking is not about just connecting people. It's about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities."

Intentional networking is the art of building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships. It's about creating a web of connections that can support you, challenge you, and help you grow both personally and professionally. When done right, networking feels less like a chore and more like a natural extension of your professional life.

The Benefits of a Strong Professional Network

The advantages of having a robust network are numerous and far-reaching. Here are just a few:

1. Career Opportunities: Your network can alert you to job openings, some of which may never be advertised publicly. As the saying goes, "It's not what you know, it's who you know."
2. Knowledge and Insights: Your connections can provide valuable industry insights, helping you stay ahead of trends and make informed career decisions.
3. Skill Development: Through your network, you can find mentors and peers who can help you develop new skills and refine existing ones.
4. Support and Encouragement: A strong network provides emotional support during challenging times and celebrates your successes.
5. Increased Influence: As your network grows, so does your ability to influence and make an impact in your industry.
6. Innovation and Creativity: Diverse connections expose you to new ideas and perspectives, fostering innovation in your work.

Networking is also a career accelerant. It can fast-track your professional growth in ways that technical skills alone cannot. It can help grow and accelerate things such as:

1. Visibility: Networking increases your visibility within your industry, making you more likely to be thought of when opportunities arise.
2. Learning: Your network becomes a vast resource for learning, exposing you to new ideas and best practices.
3. Collaboration: A strong network opens doors for collaboration on projects, initiatives, or business ventures.
4. Career Transitions: When you're ready to make a career change, your network can provide invaluable support and connections.
5. Personal Brand: Active networking helps you build and reinforce your personal brand in your industry.

I’ve experienced every single one of these benefits due to my network and relationships.?

How has networking benefited you? If you can identify that, you’re likely to view it as a key part of your career development strategy.

Debunking Common Networking Misconceptions

Despite its benefits, networking can often be misunderstood. Let's address some common myths:

1. Myth: Networking is only for extroverts. Reality: Introverts can be excellent networkers by leveraging their strengths in one-on-one conversations and thoughtful follow-ups.
2. Myth: Networking is manipulative or self-serving. Reality: Effective networking is about giving, not just taking. It's about building genuine relationships, not using people.
3. Myth: You only network when you need something. Reality: The best time to network is before you need it. Building relationships takes time and should be an ongoing process.
4. Myth: Networking is all about formal events and exchanging business cards. Reality: Networking can happen anywhere – in casual settings, online, or even within your current workplace.

Don’t give into these myths. They are largely unhelpful and don’t lead to you taking intentional action.?

Instead, make a decision that you’ll look for opportunities to expand or deepen your network frequently and consistently.

Take Intentional Action

Look at the lists above.?

Identify one benefit you really want to focus on for networking.

Additionally, identify one myth you might be believing and let go of it.

Then, reach out to one person that might help you achieve the benefit you seek. Do that with the intent to deepen a relationship, not just to get something out of them.

See what happens!

Accelerate Your Progress

This newsletter is an adapted excerpt from my upcoming book, The Intentional Career Guide to Professional Networking. I plan to get it out in the coming weeks!

If you are interested in being an early reader and becoming part of the “Book Army” to help it launch as well as the rest of the Intentional Career Guide series, sign up at https://www.intentionalcareerguide.com/bookarmy .