The New (but-should-have-always-been-this-way) Networking
# Rant warning#
After reading Todd Defren’s post this evening exposing other industries for not understanding the value of relationships – something which social media and public relations people are finally ‘getting’ – I was inspired/incensed to write about my opinions on relationships; in particular on relationships between fellow professionals.
I’ve recently attended a couple of events that have involved lots of PR people and a couple that have involved a lot of business people. All recent, and the first being my initial foray into the world of ‘networking’.
Here’s something that I’m struggling to comprehend:
If public relations people are learning and practicing the art of relationships, why do they not exercise the same skills with each other?
We’re now programmed – thank you blog-o-sphere – to realise that we shouldn’t blast journalists/bloggers with press releases and one-size emails because that isn’t the behaviour that cultivates a relationship. So why do we presume that ramming a business card in someone’s face and failing to make any conversation with them will reap any rewards (this hasn’t actually happened to me, but I witnessed it at virtually every event other than Twestival)?
If you hand someone a business card it’s a similar tactic to shouting your job title at them from the other side of the room. If you go over and breach the ’stranger barrier’ and actually talk to them and develop a bond, then that’s like making a friend – because that’s exactly what you’re doing, making a friend.
I’d much rather receive a call from a friend asking for a favour, or advice or directions to the nearest Wagamama in Cardiff than receiving the same requests from a stranger who’s business card I’ve thrown away.
We have to think smart people; don’t just make friends with journalists, make friends with everyone. It shouldn’t feel like a chore, it should feel natural – and if it doesn’t, then I’m afraid you’re in the wrong job.
Category: Public Relations, Relationships | Tags: networking, Public Relations, rant, Relationships, social media 7 comments »
October 1st, 2008 at 11:23 am
Interesting post Jed – I agree with you that meeting PR people doesn’t have to be so formal that you both feel awkward. Personally, being a northerner that has worked in London for five years, I find it a tad tiresome and think we should all lighten up a bit. Although that said business cards do come in handy if you need to get in touch with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Nice post and unfortunately all too true. My wife who doesn’t work in PR was at a networking event a few weeks ago and started chatting to someone who worked in financial PR. Having listen to me jabber on about PR she knows a little about the subject and started chatting about the industry and mentioned that I worked for a technology PR agency. At this point the guy stopped mid conversation and announced that he felt uncomfortable talking to someone who might steal his ideas!! How sad.
October 7th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Carly ponders an intelligent reponse, scraps it and goes with this instead:
I had a friend once. Then he moved away and got another job.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hey Carly, I’m there in spirit!
I’ll miss all of you guys so much – you’re all (mostly!!) great people who I loved working with…
Beers soon though, eh?
October 8th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Hi, Just discovered your blog.
Nice post. I agree that ‘making friends’ is so much more important than business card harvesting. I get very tired of competing for #of contacts, we should value the strength of our contacts instead.
I also found twestival very refreshing from this perspective – even if someone did run away from me when they found out I work for a head hunting company. I don’t even head hunt in their industry! People are funny.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Hi Katharine,
Thanks for stopping by! Friends are all-important in a world where you can say hello to anyone you like – people shouldn’t blame time restraints or shyness. Relationships mean more. Simple.
Twestival was excellent, hopefully there’ll be many more to come!
As Jim Morrison put it; ‘people are strange’. Never a finer word spoken!
October 12th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Beers sound good… And there in spirit? By that do you mean yahoo messenger?