How to Network When You Hate Networking
No More Schmoozing
If networking makes you feel dirty, you’re not alone.
In one study, researchers asked a group of people to think about a time they needed to network for professional advancement and another group about a time of social networking to make friends. They then asked each group to complete the word fragments W _ _ H, S H _ _ E R, and S _ _ P.
The first group, those thinking about professional networking, gave words associated with cleanliness: WASH, SHOWER, and SOAP. While the second group came up with more neutral words like WISH, SHAKER, and STEP.
Apparently even thinking about networking causes people to subconsciously identify with the need to become clean.
Which makes sense for everyone who’s ever attended a networking event. You know the one — when you pretend to check your phone 20 times an hour to avoid actually having to talk with anyone.
You can’t help but leave those things with a feeling of inauthenticity. And pocketfuls of business cards that you’ll never use again.
No thanks. I’d rather be at home reading a book — even a book about networking.
And yet, we all know that networking’s important. As our organizations and industries become flatter, more of our influence…
