Within today’s professional world the buzzword “Networking” is everywhere. There is so much weight and value attributed to your network that it could easily find itself in many MasterCard commercials. I’m not here to discredit any given professional’s beloved network, but yet to poke and prod at the ways professionals go about building their network.
I work for a Consulting Firm that is constantly touting our networks’: Build your Network! Maintain your Network! Utilize your Network! The firm is also always hosting events to ‘foster’ our networks. Here is where this whole forced networking fad gets that sour, funky taste in my mouth. Should we all really be sprinting up to senior managers/partners, insincerely laughing at their every word? Would this not breed a dangerous climate of “Yes sir/ma’am”-ism? Too often does this pseudo love fest spill over into the work environment.
Pretty sure the top guy lives for Happy Hour Networking events
A strong, real network is not built upon insincere ramblings at some Happy Hour. Too often do I witness my fellow peers tripping over themselves to slobber all over a senior to them or mention a senior manager/partner might be about, which causes a nervous uneasiness to befall the crowd. I’m not trying to breed any type of disrespect for my seniors (I have nothing but the utmost respect for my current project’s partner – the man speaks his mind freely, and to hell with the consequences! – among other admirable traits) – just pointing out that there is no reason to flirt with them as if it were closing hours at your favorite watering hole. I would thoroughly enjoy reading a letter of recommendation for the poor sap who truly valued this “Happy Hour” networking approach.
Sincere, tangible hard work is how you build your network. Just as a linebacker should do the talking with his pads, do the talking with your work. Furthermore you shouldn’t have to go around bragging about your work either – if you need to, your work is not high quality enough.
Who would you remember in a time of need: the guy who busted a nut at the last Happy Hour when you told him your Dick LeBeau “didn’t know what a pound was so he shook Mike Tomlin’s pound” story, or the gal who came through in the clutch at 11pm the night before a proposal is due?
Tags: BS Forced Business Networking · Happy Hour · sincerity2 Comments
RSS
I don’t care what horses*** blog I read that your social network is one of your career’s most important asset. Whoever says that obviously doesn’t have a job. Networks and relationships are built through sharing experiences with those in the trenches day to day. Whether its a current coworker or college classmate, you have been through it together. I would take a smaller network of individuals who know me as a person over a large network of fakers who I met at a happy hour or twestival. Expanding your network can certainly benefit your career – but one face to face meeting at a job fair, or an occasional RT@ does nothing. It takes actual work to build an effective network. You must start a relationship from the ground level and work to gain respect and trust. Only then can you describe it a network. I would never recommend someone for a job simply because I met them one night at a networking event. But if it’s someone I’ve known for a decent amount of time and/or have met somehow and built a legitimate relationship, I’ll definitely help them out. Not like anyone’s looking to me for a recommendation, but..and believe me…that was all hypothetical!!
-boyd
Mavstick,
Nice post. I’m at that point where “networking” is starting to get shoved in my face. I went to a client’s Christmas party with my boss. I didn’t know anyone there, nor had I really had much contact at all with their folks that were on our project. My boss decides to bail for a family thing a half hour into it, and suggested I stick around and shmooze.
I agreed, but how the hell am I supposed to shmooze complete strangers? I’m a genuine person that ends up awkward whenever I try to fake interest and force a conversation. I can’t get it through my brain because I feel that what I’m effectively doing is hitting on dudes. And that makes me more uncomfortable.
I ended up talking to a couple guys whose name I can’t recall and who weren’t really interested in talking to me anyway because I wasn’t my boss. But I did score some free appetizers and microbrews, which was sweet.
I’m with you. I prefer to let my work and daily professional actions speak for themselves. If a client comes to me with a problem, that’s when I want to bring value by communicating effectively and reacting quickly.