neither as enjoyable as they are expected, nor do they help people make new/real connections.
The study showed that 50% of the people only talk to people that they already know."
Things get even worse…
According to business school professor Dr. David Burkus and his book Friend of a Friend,
"networking at first tends to feel 'dirty' and purely transactional. People only think about it when
they want something, whether it's to find a new job, or meet individuals who could elevate their
career or business."
So, why all this ado about networking then?
Experts do agree that the most connected people are often the most successful. Investing
in building relationships is one of the best investments that will yield its return for years in
continuation. We live in "the era of do-it-yourself careers" as Carter Cast, author of the book The
Right (and Wrong) Stuff: How Brilliant Careers Are Made, puts it. Networking may not land you a
job, but will definitely provide you a competitive edge!
The benefits of networking are numerous. In order to be a more agile and effective communicator
and ultimately successful, you need to get out there and meet people in and out of your field
of interest. This is the only way to increase visibility! Meet new people who can convert into
mentors, partners, and clients. Gain new perspective and seek to enlarge your world view. Stay
on top of the latest trends and tap into new insights in your area of expertise/interest. Improve
your communication and other soft skills. Uncover opportunities you didn't think existed, all
through networking!
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