Suck at Networking? Try Netweaving Instead
As an executive, I need to grow my network since my company’s business depends on it.
What about someone who is not a business person? Do they need networking too?
How about students? How about stay at home moms? How about researchers? Scientists?
Yes they need to. Students need networks to help them grow, to support their learning, to support their career development after graduation. Stay at home moms need networking to support them in taking care of the household, taking care of their children, husband. Researchers and scientists need to network and collaborate to expand their knowledge to invent new technology.
I need networking. You need networking. We need networking. As long as we are human, we need connection with other humans.
But the problem is, I hate networking.
Have you ever felt so awkward when you attend a networking event?
When you open the door and you see only strangers talking about small unimportant talks?
I do. I was suck at networking.
Seriously, I hate it so much. I prefer to sleep at home rather than wasting my time talking with strangers that I might forget the next day.
I tried to find a way on how to grow my circle without attending any traditional networking event.
Then, I found it.
It was called Netweaving. What is Netweaving?
Netweaving is connecting people who can truly benefit from knowing one another without any strings attached.
If no strings attached, then what are the benefits?
Okay before we go there, let’s imagine the traditional networking event. You go to a networking event. You’re in a large room with many, many people from many different industries and professions. And you are having a really nice conversation with someone until that person decides that you are not the perfect prospect.
POOF, the time is wasted.
In netweaving, you are the host.
You listen empathetically, finding what are their needs then you find someone who might have the capability to fulfill their needs. Then, make them part of your network. For example, I know that some Japanese companies have trouble outsourcing their projects to overseas companies. So I asked one of my acquaintances at that company about what kind of problems they have and what their needs are. Then I remember that my high school friend in Indonesia works in the same field with this company and she might have the capability in helping this company. So I introduce my friend to my acquaintance in this company.
What happened after that? They found the perfect business partners and they and their circle became my trusted network. My circle has grown bigger and now I have another business in outsourcing Japanese projects to Indonesian software houses.
Sounds interesting right?
I don’t have a good network, how can I do netweaving? No worries. You can follow these easy steps:
- Trace down all of your potential networks (your university friends, high school friends, friends you met at hiking course, etc)
- Hold a reunion event (online it’s okay). Listen to their talks empathetically.
- Find out if there are any needs that you can help them to fulfill by introducing them to one of your networks.
- Introduce them.
Okay now you already know the steps, then what are the skills needed to be a good Netweaver?
First skill: is learning how to be a better connector of other people, and that starts out with empathetic listening.
The second one is learning how to position yourself, which is a gratuitous resource for others so that you develop a reputation. So people will come to you if they need someone to be introduced to them
The third skill really ties and very close to the first two. Social skills. This skill allows you to read people. What they need and how to connect with them.
In conclusion, Netweaving is to connect people you know that might benefit each other. 3 skills needed are empathic listening, how to position yourself, and social skills. How to do netweaving: trace down your network, hold a reunion or any event, find out their needs, and lastly introduce each of them.
