I’m a busy dude. The people that work with me are busy. We will make time for anyone who asks for it. Everyone is a VIP.
Once upon a time a guy asked to meet with me. He came by, spent about an hour with me. We exchanged useless pleasantries and talked about our jobs. He didn’t need or want anything from me. He was “networking.”
No. He was wasting my time.
This same guy contacted me every few weeks, “How’s it going Sir?” “How’s the family?” “Are you doing anything special this weekend?” Umm, yes – I’m protecting the country. Now stop calling me unless you have a purpose.
Too much business advice centers around the idea of networking. Let’s fix that word. Networking. How about just ‘work’?
We enjoy friends and contacts all over the military, inter-agency and corporate communication industry. We’ve never had a networking lunch or dinner. We’ve had plenty or work lunches and dinners.
It is through work – communal progress and situation management – where relationships are formed.
It makes sense to know and get together with other communicators before a crisis happens. It makes absolute sense to form relationships before you need them. Do that through purposeful engagement. Bring public affairs officers on your base together for a brain storming session on any useful topic.
Years ago, the Director of Press Operations for DoD visited our place. Instead of holding a networking event, we asked him to speak to a group of junior public affairs officers, then answer questions. We focused the time on tangible, purposeful outcomes.
Next time someone tells you you need to spend some time networking with your community, tell them you’ve got work to do.
Now go and do likewise.
Photo by Pfc. Armando Elizalde
