By Abla Tannous While networking may come as second nature to some, many cringe at the thought of it. Yet, it does not have to be that way. Networking is all about building relationships.
Image source: Pixabay https://pixabay.com/vectors/social-media-connections-networking-3846597/ While networking may come as second nature to some, many cringe at the thought of it. Yet, it does not have to be that way. Networking is all about building relationships. Every day presents us with opportunities to make new connections. I was once on a plane trip and met a nice lady who started a conversation with me. You might have been in a situation like this and all you wanted was to sleep or read a book silently rather that talking to your chatty neighbor. At the time I met that woman, I was looking to learn about project management and she turned out to be one. I learned a lot about her job but unfortunately, I did not follow up with that connection. My lesson from that incident was to not miss on opportunities like this by not following up. Yet, if you don’t succeed at it, the potential of learning something new is well worth it. If you’re not wired to start conversations with random strangers, it may take you a lot of conscious effort to adapt and apply this approach. Yet, having this mindset will make you always ready to create new connections when an opportunity arises. There are simple ways to follow up with someone to show that you value the relationship; for example, you can send an email or a message to congratulate them on new accomplishments or life events and genuinely be happy for them and their success, invite them for coffee, share an article they wrote, ask for career advice or offer how you can help. In our world today, social media has made this easier, and allows us plenty of chances to connect, but try not to rely only on social media. With that said, it’s important to remember that a relationship is always a two-way street. You can be a great asset to others and to your community, just as a new connection can be a great asset to you. While helping others should not come as an act in which we expect something in return, it allows us to leave a positive imprint where we go, and to foster strong relationships. And again, what is networking other than creating relationships between people? Most of us probably have heard the quote “We rise by lifting others” (Robert Ingersoll). I strongly believe in this as a way of life. Mentoring and volunteering are some of the ways of helping and creating strong relationships and a better world. If connecting with others is not in one’s comfort zone, it is important to not be afraid of making mistakes in the process of networking; instead, endeavor to learn from all your networking experiences and move on. And as I have experienced, magic happens when we step out of our comfort zone. I used to find it difficult to initiate a conversation with people I do not know much about. I started going to networking events such as those organized by iJOBS and the New Jersey Biopharma Networking group (NJBPNG). Doing so, I overcame the difficulty of breaking the ice when meeting a new person and made many connections. You may not share common interests, or may have a very different personality from someone you are trying to connect with, but you can always find some basic common ground, provided that both of the concerned parties are willing to find it. I have not always realized the importance of networking and I have not always applied the principles I describe here; however, it is never too late to start and to prioritize building and maintaining relationships. It may not be easy, so it requires continuous effort. Our busy lives take us away from thinking about how we are connecting to our immediate and larger communities and we have to constantly remind ourselves of doing it. This article was edited by Shekerah Primus and Helena Mello.