Networking – just do it! - a podcast by Frances Ridout, Kerry Jarred, Simon Reichwald, Nigel Spencer

Networking is not about taking: it is about generously giving, and connecting.  In this episode, Nigel and Fran are joined by Anne Marcotty and Beth Crocker who discuss how to build your networking ‘muscle’, and how important it is to focus on this activity from your time in education as well as in the workplace. 

We often think about networking in a very short-term, transactional way, but in reality it is a skill to be practised over time, and a habit that we can develop.  This episode discusses the importance of bonding with people who are both like, and unlike you, listen out for their personal interests and hobbies, look for common ground.  Did you know that networking has benefits ranging from your happiness and mental health to quicker promotions in the work place? The pandemic has shrunk all of our networks, but what can we do to compensate?

We always encourage listeners to undertake practical actions after listening to the episode. 

-       Evaluate your web of contacts. Think about where you have gaps and what those gaps are.
-       Once you have thought about those gaps, in the next week reach out to five people in a personal, education or professional context and connect with them.   

Useful resources
-      Consider reading the book Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.
-       https://news.linkedin.com/2017/6/eighty-percent-of-professionals-consider-networking-important-to-career-success
-       Professional Networking Makes People Feel Dirty by Carmen Nobel. https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/professional-networking-makes-people-feel-dirty

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