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Networking is often thought of as something people turn to when they're looking for opportunities. It’s often used like a ladder to climb and as a means to an apparently successful end that often doesn’t feel as rewarding as it should. Rebecca Gitomer from Career Village gives us a fresh take on this idea. For her, safe and meaningful human connections take priority over simply talking to people for the direct benefits of the conversation. This is an especially helpful perspective for young changemakers, as it allows us to build meaningful relationships, share ideas and create lasting impact in our communities.
In her session “Enlarging The We”, held during this Spring’s Youth Ambassador Programme cohort, she explored the difference between networking and genuine connection, encouraging us to rethink how we approach interactions with others. Through personal experiences and connecting with us too, she showed us that human connections are often just as, if not more valuable and even more interesting and engaging than interacting with people for personal gain.
What made this session particularly impactful was how interactive and reflective it was. Instead of simply telling us what connection meant, Rebecca encouraged us to think about how we personally approach conversations and relationships and pushed us to discuss, ask questions and connect with each other by understanding each other's perspectives. It made me realise that many of us, without even noticing, tend to approach interactions with a goal in mind rather than focusing on the person in front of us which makes us less likely to actually form a connection with them and make them feel valued. This shift in perspective made me reconsider how I communicate with others over social media and in real life too.
One thing that really stood out to me was the emphasis she placed on protecting our personal peace and self-esteem by choosing the right battles to fight. This was something that a lot of us in the session, including myself, had never really considered important before. It made me realise that connection and networking should never come at the cost of our wellbeing. It should not be about compromising who we are to travel further in our professional journeys, but about knowing when to step back, being respectful and setting boundaries when a space doesn't feel right.
Especially as someone who is quite selectively social, setting boundaries does come naturally to me, but perhaps a bit too often. That’s something I know I need to work on: finding the balance between being out there and being in here, while still staying true to my book-loving, “listen more, speak less” self.
As we approached the end of the session, and now this article too, I find myself wondering: how might I change the way I connect with others now that I know it's all about enlarging the 'we' instead of focusing on the ‘I’?
And how would you?
