Immediate gratification. That might be one word we could use to describe an aspect of our culture. If it takes more than 5 seconds to download something to your computer, you might very well click away. The “I want it NOW!” mentality might sound like the battle cry of the two-year-old of yesteryear, but today, it IS the mantra of everyday American culture. As they say on Seinfeld … “… not that there’s anything wrong with that.” There’s nothing wrong with that, but when it comes to networking, there might be a better way.
Networking is a process. Take your time. Building and maintaining your social network is an investment … in people.
Networking is about connecting with others. It’s not about getting something or even giving something (at least not at first). Social networking is an exploration – on the part of everyone involved. It’s about showing up and being your authentic self. It’s something that’s done over a period of time, in different settings, around different topics, and through multiple interactions.
Human beings learn about their lives and those of others through their environments. And, one’s network is, indeed, an environment. We don’t build a friendship in a single meeting or even several. Occasionally, we do come across someone with whom we feel a special connection that can result in an instantaneous personal or professional connection; but more often than not, our relationships are built over time.
Our relationships are nurtured over time, through careful cultivation, and attentive care. We learn about people through the good times and the bad, through their successes and their challenges. Time allows us to help share our best gifts, talents, love, and attention in the way that works best for the people we want in our circle of connection. Until we know someone, we don’t really know how to serve them best, whether it be as a friend or a business acquaintance. Consider the current relationships in our lives. Most likely, they were created in a couple days, weeks or months. The best of them, the most rich and rewarding ones, are the ones we took our time to develop.
Networking is not about immediate results. There is no result; there is no destination. Networking is a process. What is your networking process like? What richness have you gained in your life by taking your time to get to know someone? Think about your most treasured relationships. How long did it take them to develop? Why should it be any different for our business relationships?
Posted on Oct 21st 06 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.
Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is the creator, producer and host of Michigan Entrepreneur TV, a weekly television talk show featuring business leaders and businesses from start-up to stellar. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance in the tech sector, she now coaches executives and business professionals on leadership, management, operations, and relationship issues. http://www.tarakachaturoff.com
Other posts on Coachamatic by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.
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