Theory
Any person we meet has got some quality better than us, and there is
something to learn from each and everyone we meet, if we are willing to.
Networking is about establishing and nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial
relationships with the people we meet. Investing in networking and building
relationships, both personal and professional will help us grow and succeed in life.
Networking will help us gain information from experts, know the trends in the
industries, develop skill sets and can in some way be game changers in our life.
The more we network with people, the luckier we get. Probably, our network is a
set of people who could help us become fortunate.
Let us try and find out as to how, we can start networking.
1. Let us connect with our own known friends and relatives and start talking
to them face to face or over phone to clear our anxieties.
2. Gain courage and confidence and be assertive while asking for help from
others.
3. Connect with people with smile and hi.
4. Listen, care for others and find a pause from others before you start speaking.
5. When we speak, we should speak in terms of the other person’s interest.
6. Do not forget to share numbers and business cards.
7. Remember their names and call them by their names. They feel recognized.
8. Be authentic and be original, do not fake.
9. Always have a mindset to meet, greet and connect to network with a lot of
people.
10. Be generous, be a go giver than a go getter, when you network. Remember,
what goes around, comes around.
11. Planning and preparation before networking will help us overcome
nervousness.
12. Follow upon your network connections through whatsapp, e- mails and
other social media.
Story
Karan was an ambitious young professional who firmly believed that “hard work
speaks for itself.”He spent long hours at his desk, rarely attended office lunches,
and always carried a serious face, the kind that said, “Don’t disturb me, I’m
building my empire.”
Every time his colleagues gathered near the pantry for coffee and chatter, Karan
rolled his eyes. “These people waste so much time! I’d rather focus on results,”
he’d mutter.
His manager, Mr. Joseph, once told him with a smile, “Karan, sometimes success
doesn’t come from the hours you work, but from the hands you shake.”But Karan
didn’t believe it. “Networking,” he thought, “is just a fancy word for talking too
much.”
One fine day, Karan got an email that made his heart race, the company was
hosting a leadership meet, where employees could interact with senior executives
from across India.“This is it!” he thought, “my chance to impress the top brass
with my performance.”
He prepared a detailed presentation on productivity metrics, added charts,
graphs, and formulas, all shining proof of his dedication. But when he arrived at
the event, something unexpected happened. Nobody seemed interested in his
slides. Everyone was chatting, laughing, and exchanging stories about cricket,
food, hobbies, weekend plans.
Karan stood awkwardly in a corner, clutching his laptop like a shield. He felt
invisible and a little foolish. Just then, he overheard two senior leaders talking
about filter coffee from Chennai. Unable to resist, he finally spoke up. “Sorry to
interrupt, sir, but I think you haven’t tasted real filter coffee unless you’ve been to
my hometown Coimbatore!”
The two men burst into laughter. “Is that so? Then you must show us where!”And
just like that, a conversation started, not about graphs, but about coffee. They
laughed, shared travel stories, and Karan for the first time felt like part of the
group.
The next week, one of those executives called him and said, “Karan, I’m forming a
new project team for our South Zone operations. Would you like to lead it? You
seem like a go-getter and someone who can connect with people.”Karan was
stunned. That one conversation over coffee changed his career.
He realized then that competence opens the door, but connection keeps it open.
From that day on, he didn’t skip the pantry breaks. He started attending team
lunches, remembering birthdays, sharing ideas, and yes pouring the best filter
coffee in the office. Years later, when asked about the secret of his success, he
would grin and say, “Hard work built my skills. But coffee built my fortune.”
Learning
Networking isn’t about showing off, it’s about showing up. Every relationship we
build adds invisible bridges to our future. Success often flows not just through
effort, but through empathy, kindness, and conversation. When we connect
heart-to-heart, opportunities connect door-to-door. People may forget what you
said or did, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel. Sometimes,
fortune doesn’t knock on the door, it sits right next to you at the coffee table.
Activity
Plan to network and write down the names of people with whom you have newly
networked, this week.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Quote
“Your network is your net worth “~ Porter Gale
Takeaways
1. Networking is about establishing and nurturing long-term, mutually
beneficial relationships with the people you meet
2. Develop and utilize the dozen strategies to build and grow networks.