We live in an interconnectedworld with the internet. People can send a message and get an instant
connection. Because of this, it seems that traditional networking has gone by
the wayside. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
Social media is a greatavenue for people to exchange ideas and meet new contacts. But, it never will
have the same power as a face-to-face meetup with someone. Communication is at its
strongest when two people can see each other. People learn more about others in
a few seconds of in-person contact thanthey ever could with a strictly online one.
Another point to remember isthat online people may not be who they say they are. Think about how easy it is
to create an online persona. People are capable of being anyone they want
online. That means the connections youmake could be phony, which won’t help you when asking people to help you. Networking is about engaging with others anda certain give-and-take involved in theexchange.
Online connections do havetheir place. They can be a great starting point in the networking hierarchy of
events. They can be a great way to hook up with people who you would never have using traditional means.However, as specified, you need to take the exchange further and try to arrange
an in-person meeting. The contact givespeople confirmation that the people you connected with are real. It’s the
reason why people often use the phrase, “it’s nice to put a face with the
name.”
If you don’t believe thatin-person meetups are important, ask yourself how many online-only connections
have become your friends. It’s likely to be a small number and even more likely
to be none. While you won’t become friends with everyone you meet face-to-face,
the number will most likely be larger than online-only connections.
It’s not practical to meetface-to-face with every person you connect with online. Some people live far
from you. However, people should not treat the internet as the only way to connect
with others. A great way to use the internet for networking is to use websites
like Meetup.com. You can find people that have similar interests to your own
and attend meetings. You can even create meetups yourself if a group doesn’t
currently exist on the website.
There is no magic formulafor networking, although some techniques may work better than others. Using
face-to-face connections is one technique that should yield better results than
a purely cyber strategy.
This post is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered therapy. This blog is only for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered therapy or any form of treatment. We are not able to respond to specific questions or comments about personal situations, appropriate diagnosis or treatment, or otherwise provide any clinical opinions. If you think you need immediate assistance, call your local doctor/psychologist or psychiatrist or the SADAG Mental Health Line on 011 234 4837. If necessary, please phone the Suicide Crisis Line on 0800 567 567 or sms 31393.