Women in Financial Services
The Human Approach to Networking
Rhian Bowler / 27 Oct 2017
E2W leadership coach Rhian Bowler challenges you to take the 'Human Approach to Networking'.
During many coaching conversations that I have with the E2W community, women readily admit that they hate the thought of networking. To them, networking feels like forced conversations with people they don’t know. I want to explain to you how you can see it differently, as simply another human interaction to add to the spectrum of interactions that you have every single day.
Research from EY (2014) found that:
- Only 50% of business workers value networking as a professional skill;
- Fewer than half of professionals have LinkedIn accounts;
- Only 1:4 women are convinced of the need for women only networks.
Networking, or connecting is something we all do every day with friends, colleagues & clients.
Fundamentally, it is about forming and maintaining relationships, and this is often best carried out face-to-face.
The true value of professional networking is underestimated: being able to network and subsequently, collaborate with peers is now being directly linked to productivity. The expression, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” is very apt - you might not know how to resolve a problem at work but thanks to networking, you might know someone who can help. That short chat at a networking event could really pay dividends.
But still there are many reasons why people say they do not network: lack of time or the ‘right skills’ and not feeling confident are all mentioned as reasons not to network. Certainly, in the UK networking cultures are not embedded in every organisation, and many companies do not have networking strategies or training in place.
Networking can take us out of our comfort zone. We, perhaps, don’t know what to say, or behave at networking events. However, once you have reframed the way you approach and think about networking, it can become more enjoyable and as natural as chatting to someone you meet at a wedding, say.
Why not think about networking, (or connecting with people if that seems less intimidating) as a “genuine desire to make new connections, build relationships and develop the mind set of ‘what can I give/ offer’, rather than ‘what can I get out of this?’”? Aiming to connect with people who have common interests, knowledge or skills can create and nurture a mutual desire to encourage and support each other and introduce each other to new contacts.
LinkedIn is networking via social media, allowing you to connect with and consolidate old and new relationships made face-to-face as well as connecting with people in different geographical locations, who perhaps, you couldn’t meet face-to-face in the short term. It is a critical tool in today’s recruitment market and should not be overlooked as just “Facebook for professionals” – it’s much more than that.
With our typically British reserve, we can often be too shy to ask for advice or help from our networks. There are times when we can offer support, and times when we need to ask for help, particularly when job seeking or looking to change career direction. Absolutely, this is the time to contact your network: you never know what can happen - if your contacts or friends are not in a position to help, they may know someone who can.
Interact with your contacts, don’t be afraid of rejection or that you can’t offer anything in return, and start to embrace the human approach to networking, a key skill in your path to career progression.
About Rhian
Working in the career development area has been a passion of Rhian’s for many years. Combining her experience in HR and Careers Rhian has developed a wealth of knowledge and insights into supporting individuals at different stages of their careers as a HR professional and Career Coach.
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