Scott Herrick has a very good post on his Cube Rules blog titled “Networking for Shy People” that is definitely worth the read whether you are shy or not.
One of the clearest descriptions Ive ever read of networking is provided by Scott when he writes (emphasis is mine):
First, learning that “networking” isn’t something you do, like going out and painting a picture by number. Instead, networking is simply knowing and helping other people. The more people you help, the more people you know, and the larger your network gets.
I wish more people understood this. Most people think that networking is a bunch of people standing in a room exchanging business cards and talking. Of course, that can be a method that a person can use to network, but networking is about helping others.
Thanks for the blog post Scot.
[tags] Networking, Relationships [/tags]
About Eric D. Brown
Thanks, Eric. It really is about helping other people, isn’t it? That’s what makes networking fun — figuring out where each person intersects and how each can be a resource to each other.
Thanks Scot. That is exactly it…most people look at networking as ‘networking’ (i.e., business card exchanges, etc) and not helping people.
The fun in networking is figuring out how each person can be of assistance to the other.