Why You Should Love Networking

By Author: Icons Edge
Total Articles: 16
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I love networking.

JUST KIDDING. No one does, really - amirite?

But you can - and should - learn to love it. And here’s why.

Networking, according to academic research, is a critical management skill that leads to:

Access to opportunities, particularly hidden or created opportunities
Increased pay, lack of networking is often cited as a reason for the wage gap for women
Leadership consideration, since it is considered a management skill, networking opens up opportunities in the upper ranks and is also cited as an explanation for the gender promotion gap
Competitive advantage, being more “connected” gives you a leg up when it comes to new roles, sales opportunities, funding, speaking opportunities, etc.
In fact, an MIT study showed that the most successful founders who received the most funding had larger networks compared to less successful founders. And don't worry, networking is a learned skill (even though some people are born networkers).

But networking is also one of those nebulous words like “leadership” and “innovation” that lose meaning after you ...
... hear it a few times so what is networking anyway?

Research defines networking as:

Developing and maintaining relationships with others
Engaging in professional activities/associations
Participating in community activities
Increasing internal visibility, seeking high visibility/stretch assignments
Socializing
Interestingly, there are not significant differences between men and women in the above list EXCEPT when it comes to socializing. Men tend to do more and better socializing compared to women. C'mon, ladies - we can do this!

Read More: https://www.iconsedge.com/viewpoint/why-you-should-love-networking-nid-69.html

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