Angela Kujava - Post 2: Speaking of those social safety nets
Posted By: Angela Kujava
Posted: 7/17/2009
The word "networking" often conjures up the image of slick guys in
suits uncomfortably pressing their shiny business cards into your
hand. Or maybe some exhausting exercise of patience, listening to
people convince you that they have the magic product to fulfill your
unfulfilled needs, all the while forcing yourself to persuade them of
your virtues in return.
While that does indeed happen, several
groups have been established to give networking a new identity focused
on friendship building in conjunction with, and as opposed to,
professional promotion. There need be no argument that this involves
much less stress, and is just as effective a means of advocating
yourself or business.
Especially in these times of uncertainty,
it is essential to look beyond the purely promotional reasons for
networking. Building a solid network of fellow professionals and
creating friendships, not acquaintances but friendships, is knitting
your own social safety net.
As the former co-chair of Leadership Ann Arbor,
I did my best to stress this concept right off the bat. In an
environment in which 40-60 participants meet with each other once a
month it is easy to underestimate the importance of furthering those
relationships outside class. The same applies to any networking groups
in which you are involved: it's not enough to show up once a month.
A
quick example—one night I may or may not have found myself involved in
an impromptu puppet show in front of an audience of several local
business types. I knew only one other person in the room, and
strangely that one person was not my fellow puppeteer. As unusual as
it was, and as absolutely silly as it sounds, my new partner in sock
hand crime quickly became a great friend, and has often given me
invaluable professional advice. Not only that, she has been a constant
source of encouragement, especially when I felt in crisis. All this
due to a spontaneous moment of levity (that may or may not have
happened).
Opportunities to meet exciting, professional people
in Ann Arbor are scattered and without cohesion (often a major
complaint among the very same population), but they do exist in large
numbers. Leadership Ann Arbor, as I mentioned above, coaches local
business people on effective and responsible citizenship. Having
chosen to take part in this Chamber program for three years I will, of
course, stress its importance. More than that, I can honestly tell you
that it utterly transformed my life in very positive ways. But I have
found that to be the case with all the networking groups I’ve joined,
as long as I have put forth the effort to simply continue relationships
outside the scope of scheduled meetings.
The Chamber has several
of low-cost options available to you, but if money isn’t in your
arsenal right now there are also plenty of free choices. You can join
YP Underground on Facebook, and come out to have a drink with 50-70
people once every six weeks(ish). At the time of this writing, Meetup.com
boasts 158 groups in Ann Arbor who meet to share common interests
spanning art, hobbies, pets, science, religion, etc. You’ll probably
find that soon you’ll be invited to a party, poker/movie/girls'/guys'
night, or even someone's wedding. Just as important, when you find
yourself in a moment of distress you’ll be comforted knowing there are
a whole slew of people right around the corner you can contact to help
you figure it out.
Please list serving a non-profit board in the
category of "fantastic ways to meet fascinating people." Tomorrow I'll
discuss the significant impact doing so has on both you and your
community.
This post originally appeared in Concentrate.