Want to Improve Your Networking Skills? Try This Simple Tip

Consider it the great irony of living in today’s era of hyper-connectivity: all available data suggests that we’re more disconnected than ever. With the rise of social media and the surge in remote work, it’s simply a fact that fewer people engage in meaningful, in-person interactions.

One area significantly impacted by this era of disconnection is good old-fashioned networking. In fact, we’ve recently received feedback from our customers indicating a growing eagerness for help in expanding networks and building stronger connections.

To address this, we consulted one of our master trainers at The Optimism Company, Joseph Kim, Ph.D., a Harvard Business School alum, entrepreneur, and former president of an international college in Osaka, Japan. He is also the author of the books Reformed Epistemology and Power7.

“People forget that networking is largely an analog skill that can be enhanced with platforms such as Linkedin,” he says. “But the truth is, often the best networking comes when it doesn’t feel like networking at all.”

Joseph recommends a simple approach: “Get a hobby that requires you to interact with people in your industry.” If that doesn’t work, “just get a hobby, period.”

He elaborates: “Let’s say you’re an amateur photographer who enjoys taking pictures. Go to some car shows, airplane shows, boat shows, and volunteer to take quality pictures. If you let other people know you’ll email and share the pictures later, that’s an instant connection.”