Networking Authentically

Today a client told me that he was uncomfortable networking and that where he came from it just wasn't done. As I probed further I discovered that my client believed that networking was about asking for a favor and this bothered him. But networking is not about asking for favors. Networking is about asking for and sharing information. It encourages trust, community, authenticity, and reciprocity. Good networkers give more than they get. They share knowledge, ideas, and resources. They connect people and businesses. Does that sound like something that's done where you come from? Let's hope so. Make a commitment to yourself today to help someone in your community, school, or company. You'll be glad that you did.