Meeting people is the top-on-the-list in any book about networking, because of course, you can not network without meeting people.
Yet, in times of hot debates about remote working, hybrid contracts, all-back-in-the-offices reactions, meeting people could appear a bit tougher.
If you spent, like I did, almost twenty years in the same company, chances are that your networking capital is mostly related to colleagues. In big corporations the resources you need for budget, promotions, business trips, projects, are all within the network.
Very few people in large organizations master the art of networking outside your own organization.
Certainly, I was NOT one of them.
After I moved out, I had to learn it all about introducing myself, defining my identity, and be able to give (first) and take (after).
Well, in one of my admittedly sloppy networking efforts, I tried to pitch someone I was amazed by his profile on LinkedIn. I frankly thought “is he boasting or did he really made that?”.
To all my astonishment, I got a quick reply (“sure we can talk”) and, even more surprising, the meeting was for me a turning point.
Many consultants and experts suggest asking successful people “how did they make it”, because this works on the natural inclination everyone must feel better when talking about herself. On top, sharing knowledge is a prosocial behavior, which is the most relevant attitude that makes people happy.
So, what did I get out of reaching somebody I did not know, I just followed on Linked In (amidst the much informational noise of no value it displays)?
Two main things:
- Some people are willing to give advice-insights-help. Even if I had nothing for them.
- Talking with people who really helped me focus on what I want to do.
As usual, acting has no less impact that knowing I did not expect to be replied, even less to be given useful hint. I tried my luck, it went great.
My two cents on the matter: dare to ask, listen, and be prompt to act.