| Networking Without Being Transactional TLDR; transactional networking does not work! In fact, it can be detrimental to your career journey. Creating a genuine professional relationship certainly takes time and effort and cannot be developed overnight. Many times, individuals are so focused on their personal or professional goals that they forget about the most important part of networking: creating a lasting connection. And remember, the best time to build your network is before you truly need it. Common tactics for forging a connection include identifying common interests, sharing work or life experiences, and highlighting mutual personal connections. And one of the best ways to find these commonalities is to ask questions! While it can be difficult not to think about what you can gain from a networking conversation, it may be helpful to instead consider what you can learn. Thinking about networking conversations can not only help you to reframe the questions you ask, but it also helps the person you’re talking with to feel like they too are gaining something from the conversation. As a future grad and business leader, you might imagine it would indeed be fulfilling to share your wisdom and experience with a current Freeman student. So be sure to give your networking contacts the same opportunity to feel like they can give back to you. Want to learn more and get some practice in this area? Check out the LinkedIn Learning course on Two mindset shifts to make networking enjoyable taught by Anna Belyaeva and learn great tips on having more meaningful interactions. |
Networking Without Being Transactional
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