Harder Networker!

Disclaimer: The following interpretations and comments are just results of my thought. I do not claim responsibility for the accurateness/ validity/ sustainability or implications of the interpretations. Because networking is an attitude and I am still developing it.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard the word ‘networking,’ I would be at the bank right now changing for billion dollar bills! If I had a nickel for every time I heard the words ‘networking’ and ‘important’ together, I would still be at the bank. You obviously got the point. If engineering management was a religion, the activity of ‘networking’ is the most sacred ritual that involves the Holy Grail of ‘learning.’ Did I take the analogy too far? :P

So after all the events and the speeches about networking, my dumb brain decided to actually understand what the word meant. So I looked it up in the dictionary. It defined networking as “connecting two or more computers or other devices.” That didn’t make a lot of sense to me. So all this while, people kept saying “you have to connect two or more computers or devices to have a great career path?”

Hahaha…Enough kidding. Here’s what I really have to reckon. Networking is not just talking to someone and gathering information like the person’s name, place of birth and hobbies. Networking is about genuinely (cannot stress this word enough even after bold, italic and underline) being interested in another human being. It is about having the best thoughts and intentions at heart and sharing them. Having said that, a very good question that many of us might be asking is ‘how and why must I be interested in someone else’s life?’ Wait, you didn’t ask that question? Well, I’m gonna try and answer it anyway. You have to network because you are a social being. Being interesting and interested is a very crucial part of being social. And to drive this exact point home, the MEM program and many such others organize networking events. These events are excellent practice sessions for being a great social animal.

Now, I want to comment on the state of ‘not being able to network well.’ It is absolutely understandable and genuine to not be able to network well. After all, it is an art. It is more than an art. It is an attitude. So even if you are doing it mechanically or even if you suck at it, keep trying. I would like to paraphrase Professor Jeff Glass here. ‘It is a bit like learning a new instrument. Initially you just play the notes as instructed by your teacher. You might not realize the depth or the weight in the music. You play it anyway. You practice, you learn, you practice again, you memorize, you connect, you get better and finally, someday, you internalize it.’ That is the state when you are the most genuine and social. Networking sessions and social events here at Duke, can be your practice sessions. Your friends and colleagues are nice, courteous people who will definitely understand and appreciate your efforts. And through such conscious effort and sub-conscious learning, you will someday be genuine, social and successful.

Credits: All the people I have interacted with.