My LinkedIn comment that you screenshot for the post kind of says it all for me. I love being a connector, but sometimes I feel like "networking" to some is really "selling to." And I also feel like it would be great for people puling groups together to know that "community" vs. "network" have different definitions and to have clarity about which one you're building.
I'll also add that I feel like I've gotten looser about who I'll connect with on LinkedIn, but more controlled about how or when I'll connect two other people. I feel like, if anything, we gatekeep our own time so much, and I wonder what percentage of our time is taken up with meetings that could have been emails and emails that didn't need to be sent at all, which is, perhaps not interaction that fills us up. And it keeps us from actual connecting and networking that could fill us up and widen our aperture and increase yur opportunities.
Most connections I request have a solid mutual connection or reason to support each other and learn more. I also make connections via professional groups or conferences even though we might have only a passing acquaintance. I think of LinkedIn with those as a contact book. As for acting on behalf of a request I would need to feel confident the connection would be fair and beneficial. I don’t make introductions lightly. As for interns and staff connections —they would have to be stellar enough that I would want to recommend them.
That being said, I certainly have old connections that I have to try hard to remember how we met.
Soooo many thoughts on this :)
I’m guessing a whole book’s worth? ☺️
https://www.thelostartofconnecting.com/
Next on my reading list, actually!
My LinkedIn comment that you screenshot for the post kind of says it all for me. I love being a connector, but sometimes I feel like "networking" to some is really "selling to." And I also feel like it would be great for people puling groups together to know that "community" vs. "network" have different definitions and to have clarity about which one you're building.
I'll also add that I feel like I've gotten looser about who I'll connect with on LinkedIn, but more controlled about how or when I'll connect two other people. I feel like, if anything, we gatekeep our own time so much, and I wonder what percentage of our time is taken up with meetings that could have been emails and emails that didn't need to be sent at all, which is, perhaps not interaction that fills us up. And it keeps us from actual connecting and networking that could fill us up and widen our aperture and increase yur opportunities.
Most connections I request have a solid mutual connection or reason to support each other and learn more. I also make connections via professional groups or conferences even though we might have only a passing acquaintance. I think of LinkedIn with those as a contact book. As for acting on behalf of a request I would need to feel confident the connection would be fair and beneficial. I don’t make introductions lightly. As for interns and staff connections —they would have to be stellar enough that I would want to recommend them.
That being said, I certainly have old connections that I have to try hard to remember how we met.