Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them

The article is about the five most common pitfalls of networking, and how to avoid them. The stumbling blocks are:

- Not understanding what the other person wants;

- Being late or missing an event; - Turning networking into a chore; - Getting in your own way with ego or negativity; - Fear of rejection. 

 

  

At the end of the article, I've listed steps you should take to overcome these stumbling blocks. These steps include looking for ways to help yourself and others that go beyond just talking about yourself, speaking up at events, being prepared for events/interactions by finding out information on food allergies etc., and avoiding bad moods such as resentment or fear into adulthood.

A common attitude I've seen among adults is that they don't feel that they can develop their career/business as they are too busy with work, families and other commitments. As a result, sometimes it is difficult for them to get involved in networking events even though most of the other participants would already know each other through their expertise or job roles.

Unfortunately, there are many adults who try to network and make new connections yet they have never put the thought into setting up a meeting plan or asking more people to meet up with them. This can be because of fear of rejection, fear of being too outgoing or for any other reason. It is not surprising that many of these adults don't manage to make any new connections as they end up ignoring the invitations to meetings that end up happening as friends and acquaintances have made it clear.

In my experience, I've discovered that a general opinion of networking is that it involves meeting people in various situations such as at events, parties or during business lunches. This approach can only prove useful to some people and not others, depending on their personality style.

I usually find that those who can benefit from networking are those who are out of work at the moment and willing to change jobs or careers. The majority of my clients tend to be over-committed with full-time job roles with long hours and little flexibility. They have to study for upcoming exams or pass a test or an interview that is coming up soon. If these people are not too busy, then the best way for them to develop their career is to apply themselves to networking events.

I've seen many adults who already have jobs and careers and they want to network and make new connections, but they find it difficult to fit in with the other busy people and not do anything wrong in front of them. They experience fear of failing and/or fear of making a fool of themselves during networking situations which can end up decreasing their confidence at networking events, thus preventing them from being able to actively take part in these events.

I think it is important to be aware of your fears and then work around them. Fear can come in many forms and some people are afraid of being rejected. Fear of rejection can prevent them from initiating or making a move towards a new job or career path. I know quite a few adults who are afraid of rejection or criticism, but they don't realize how this fear can stop them from networking.

The best way to overcome this fear is to start practising networking in front of friends, family members and other acquaintances, especially those who haven't seen you before and haven't known you that long. This allows you to approach these 'new' people with an attitude that is less hesitant yet not overly confident either. It allows you to get used to speaking confidently and comfortably with people, and in time, you will make some new contacts who will become good friends. This approach can be helpful for those who are just starting their career. They can make contact with people who have proven their expertise in the industry or field they wish to work upon, or who are already working in what they want to pursue as a career.

Many adults experience fear of failure when it comes to networking and can end up being too hesitant when meeting new people. In some cases, this fear of failure incites them into being too cautious with others and not being able to speak up freely at events. It can also cause them to stay in their comfort zone where they already know how it works and where they already know who will accept them.

An adult's fear of failure can cause them to not be a good friend and/or potential business associate. In most cases, they are afraid of being rejected or embarrassed by the other person, which means that they won't ask for work and spend their time persuading people to buy their products or services. I've seen adults who are scared of talking to others because they think that the other person could reject them or say something negative about them.

I would suggest this person that there is nothing to be afraid of. If the person does not want to work with them or does not want to give them work, then there is nothing negative that can be said about them, as they are already on the job market and willing to help others who in turn will offer their services.

As a result, it is all about putting yourself out there and speaking up at networking events and making the first contact. As long as you are sincere, honest, respectful and listen to what other people say and do, then you will have no problems at all with making new contacts.

There will always be some people who have an attitude of rejection if they don't get what they want. When this happens, it's a good thing to know that you can always move on to another person if the current contact is not right for you.

One way of dealing with someone who has a negative attitude at social events is to avoid thinking about it and to instead focus on the next person. This allows you to relax and not worry about the other person because they are only one person out of many.

You might end up being rejected more than once when approaching new people in a networking environment, but there are some people who will appreciate your approach and ask for your help. Most of these people will be good friends. They might ask for advice or help, or simply offer their services or products freely without expecting anything in return.

I remember when I first started networking. I was nervous at the beginning because I wasn't used to speaking to strangers, but after a while, it got easier and more comfortable. What's important is that you don't let yourself get easily intimidated and be afraid of rejection.

If you have friends who are scared of making new connections or if they feel uncomfortable making connections with new people, then organise a session for them to see how everything works and how it feels. Allow them to watch what happens first-hand so that they can get over their fears before taking part in the events themselves.

Conclusion:

Most adults who are in their 30s, 40s and older, have full-time jobs and roles in life which are quite demanding. Managing work and having a successful career is challenging as well as time-consuming. This means that adult networkers have to manage their schedules and make time for networking events around their busy working lives.

It's important to find a balance between work and social events if you want to succeed in business. I think it's important for those who are looking forward to developing their careers to spend some time networking with others so that they can learn more about what is going on in the current business scene, so that they can be better prepared for future opportunities or changes.