According to AI, networking is cultivating productive relationships for employment or business. It involves making connections, building relationships and exchanging ideas and information.
Networking is a fundamental activity for any professional. I know that. All the accomplished entrepreneurs and professionals I know are good at networking.
I am not.
I love exchanging ideas and information. I like building relationships but prefer it when others are making the connection. When it comes to networking, I'm not an initiator—never been.
It wasn't a big problem when I was an employee. In the companies I worked for, there were always other people I could rely on for networking.
Things changed once I left the corporate world and faced the world as a self-employed professional. My resistance towards networking became an issue. One of the situations in which I am more uncomfortable is networking events. Yet, networking is essential.
Quite a puzzle.
However, I may have found a way to expand my network that works also for someone uncomfortable making new connections like me. And I didn't realize that I was doing that until a few days ago when I was conversing about networking during a laboratory on mentoring.
I don't focus on people; I focus on interests and passions.
I join courses or programs on subjects I'm interested in or passionate about. Talking with people and exchanging ideas and information is natural in those environments. From there, connections are made and relationships built. Now that I'm aware of it, I'll double down on this strategy.
So, if you don’t like networking but like sharing ideas and knowledge with others, you may start from there by joining classes or programs on subjects you are passionate about. You will learn something and connect with new, exciting people more easily.