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Network without networking

 Many of us have an aspersion to networking and networkers. As do I. Some years ago, in one of my conversations while taking over a new role, I was asked to network. Given my reluctance to network, I redefined it in my head. I redefined networking as "meeting for work" or "create work and a necessity to meet".

Networking (or the lack of it) continued to haunt me when I was working a consultant. Until I came upon the Giver/Taker/Matcher framework of Adam Grant.

The motto of networking is to network without networking. Or in other words, networking without expectation of anything. Or in other words, be a giver to your network and watch it grow. 

Over the last few months, I have given my time for coaching, brainstorming discussions, reading articles or CVs, connecting job seekers to companies (and vice versa), made a course for an educational institution, engaged on panel discussions with students, worked on organizing an event. And within the company, worked on projects, engaged with people, offered constructive suggestions, conducted workshops and the like. 

The giver framework makes it very simple - if something takes just a few mns, do it. And it is networking - though it is not networking per se. But this is networking without expecting anything - and yet these are bricks that go into building a network. Plus karma and paying it forward!

Network like you dont need the network and use the network to grow by giving during the times you dont need your network. And then magically, when you need something, your network will return it, many times over.  

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