Networking Skills

We live in an interconnected world with the internet. People can send a message and get an instant connection. Because of this, it seems that traditional networking is disappearing. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Social media is an excellent avenue for people to exchange ideas and meet new contacts. But it never will have the same impact as a face-to-face meetup with someone. Communication is at its strongest when two people are face-to-face. Another point to remember is that online people may not be who they say they are or appear to be. People learn more about others in a few seconds of in-person conversation than they ever could with a strictly online one. Think about how easy it is to create an online profile. Sometimes, the connections you make could be fake, which produces mistrust in the networking movement. However, you need to take the interaction to an in-person meeting when possible. Networking is about engaging with others. Online connections are one method of networking, which proves its usefulness during COVID. Online networking increases significantly during the Pandemic. Due to distance and logistics, online networking was a great way to connect with people you would never have before the Pandemic. Some people live far from you. However, people should not treat the internet as the only way to connect with others. If you don’t believe in-person meetups are essential, ask yourself how many online-only connections have become your friends. It’s likely to be a small number to none. While you won’t become friends with everyone you meet face-to-face, the number will most likely be higher than online-only connections. It’s not practical to meet face-to-face with every person you connect with online. A great way to use the internet for networking is to use websites like Meetup.com, attend conferences online and face-to-face, and Clubhouse. You can find people that have similar interests to your own and attend these group meetings. You can even create events yourself if a group doesn’t currently exist on the website, social media, or your community. Using face-to-face and online connections is one technique that should yield better results than a purely cyber strategy. Don't forget to click the link to subscribe and share it with your community.