Hate networking? Get out of professional mode.
If you are someone who hates networking - breaking the ice, trying to sound impressive, engaging in small talk, pretending to hear someone in a noisy room - then consider this: get out of “professional” mode. Every time you’re in one of those every day “non-professional” moments and someone learns something new about you (“Oh! you nerd out about furniture flipping, too?!”), you are networking.
If there’s something specific you are looking to advance in your career/life, find a way to mention it to people in everyday moments. Don’t force it - there’s likely an opportunity staring right at you.
Examples of networking in everyday life.
To further illustrate my point that networking can happen in everyday life - without going to professional events, I give you real life examples below.
Hiring help. 🐿️ 🐿️ 🐿️
My friend has been struggling with squirrels taking up residence in her walls. So she called a humane catch and release guy to relocate them. During his visit, she mentioned she had a migraine. Well, he just so happens to make CBD oil that can help! And will bring her some the next time rodents have an inside party.
This is networking.
Starting a club. 🍅 🍅 🍅
We moved to NC during the pandemic and I love to garden. To make gardening friends, a neighbor and I started a garden club. That’s where I met Amy. She loves to sew and she’s teaching me. And - she has a daughter who needed a little nudge around career direction. I got a client.
This is networking.
Getting a haircut. ✂️ ✂️ ✂️
My mom went into a new stylist for a cut and color. She mentioned she loves cleaning (you could eat off her floors - for realz) - and she’s been cleaning a couple homes for extra cash. The stylist happens to be the salon owner and offers her a gig and tells her to drop off business cards.
This is networking.
Borrowing tools. 🔧🔧🔧
We borrow tools from neighbors a lot. Need a pole saw? Ask the list serv. Why buy one? When I’m out walking, everyone knows my husband because of his posts. Not in an annoying way - but a “Hey, did Colin ever find that wrench he was looking for?” 🔧🔧🔧
This is networking. Why? Because his email signature is left on these requests - and - he practices showing up and making himself familiar.
Offering help. 🐕🦺 🐕🦺 🐕🦺
I am on Rover (the dog sitting/walking app). Colin put me on there when our first dog Jake passed to get me some dog time. I ended up dog sitting for a woman in Durham who ended up not only being a friend (she’s rad), but her company hired Colin to do a workshop for her staff on engaging presentations.
This is networking.
Going to spin class. 🚲 🚲 🚲
I’m sitting on a spin bike waiting for class to start when the woman next to me asks me about myself. At the time I was helping high school students learn career skills to prepare for workplace internships. Amy tells me she is a career coach. And I was actually looking for a coach! Amy is the person who helped me launch my coaching business.
This is networking.
Eating breakfast in the park. 🥐 🥐 🥐
Colin and I grab biscuits to eat in the park. While we’re eating, we notice a photographer taking photos of a woman. They make their way over to the gazebo where we’re sitting and Colin asks the woman why she’s getting photos taken. We start a conversation and the photographer asks if she can take photos of us conversing. We’re fine with it. It turns out that this woman is a political candidate and is getting new headshots taken. Colin mentions to her that he is a speech writer and coaches people on public speaking. She hired him to help her.
Better networking takes place in non-professional settings.
The common denominator among these stories is this: they are all NON-professional contexts.
In my opinion, better connections (aka networking) are made when you’re in settings you feel most like yourself because you’re comfortable. There’s no pressure to be impressive and “Professional You.” It’s in those moments when you’re out of work mode, being your every day self.
If you want to make more connections (professional or not), think about situations and contexts you can be yourself. And make those part of your weekly/monthly ritual.
Consider:
Taking a class in something you’re excited to learn
Offering a class in something you’re excited to teach
Being open about something you’re struggling with in your next everyday conversation
Offering help with something life or skill related
Asking for help with something life or skill related (if you’re someone who hates asking for help - this could be a good one to practice!)
The next time you’re considering your professional development plan, give yourself permission to include “non-professional” contexts. Add one of these opportunities to your calendar every month and you’ll begin to see your network grow.
Not only will you get dopamine from social connection, you may possibly get a new idea, connection, and/or encouragement that can further a goal along - professional or otherwise.
