A Passion for Networking

 

By Galia BarHava-Monteith, co-director of www.professionelle.co.nz 20 September 2010

Time and time again at Professionelle we get asked: why are we so passionate about networking for women?

Networking? Not for Me

The truth is that we learned the hard way! I never used to network; I didn't see the point of it. I had my friends and people I liked and I saw networking as phoney and inconsistent with my personal values. Of course, I also lacked time, between a young child and a full-on job. I also felt I was already in touch with all the people I would ever want - and that I could be introduced to further people through my existing contacts.

Off the Radar

Then I had another baby, my position was made redundant, and my former employer moved offices. Just like that, I dropped off the radar. The timeframe in which you start to feel completely irrelevant professionally is shockingly fast!
Over the next few years I worked hard to re-establish my professional contacts. I decided that my approach had been too narrow and that I needed to keep my mind open to new networking opportunities and give them a go. Sarah and I also started Professionelle and we began to seriously study what is beneficial for professional working women's careers and personal wellbeing.

Networking’s Power

It turns out that seasoned professionals and academics both view networking as a powerful tool for career progression and for building personal and professional resilience for women (and men). Unsurprisingly, it is also widely acknowledged that women under-invest in their social capital through networking, largely due to multiple demands on their time.

Why is networking so powerful?

1. It’s a wonderful way to get perspective. Talking to people from different companies brings you a diversity of thought, and opens your eyes to possibilities you might not have realised were available
2. Networking can powerfully build personal and professional resilience. My husband and friends told me endlessly that I was not irrelevant. It didn’t believe it till professional colleagues expressed genuine interest in my plans and made my professional self-esteem blossom
3. It’s an effective way to find out about professional opportunities inside and outside your company – new projects, new roles, and  introductions to new customers
4. It’s a way to build relationships with individuals who could, over time, become informal mentors.

Beyond “Events”

Networking isn’t just about formal events; it’s any opportunity to talk to someone new. In fact, my preference is towards more intimate meetings, like lunch, or a coffee. These allow me to really get to know someone and learn about them. However, more often than not, I have first met these exciting people at a formal event (and increasingly, through Professionelle). Yet again, this illustrates powerfully and personally that it is through 'being out there' that you really get to meet people you wouldn't normally be able to!