Networking is Like Planting a Tree

I’ve written about networking, and how much the very word has been misused, before but I today I had occasion to think again about the same topic. I was at a breakfast meeting which has, as one of its express purposes, the promotion of networking amongst its members. Each attendee gets a chance to stand up and say a few choice words about themselves so as to orient others about their own interests and expertise. Every one of us has, no doubt, been to one of these types of meetings. Far too often it is when we are “looking for our next adventure on the journey of life”. After the meeting people generally hang around and chat with some old friends and try to meet some new ones based on these introductory remarks.

TWO people stood up at the introductions and said “…I am looking for a job so I’m networking here today…” and it struck me! Networking is like planting a TREE. One starts with a sapling. One waters it and nourishes it and makes sure no one accidentally steps on it. In a short while the sapling starts to put down roots. On the surface nothing much happens at first as all of the nourishments go to make better stronger roots below the surface. Then it starts to grow. It becomes tall and strong and withstands some storms and MANY winters. It resists drought and pestilence and even begins to offer shade on those hot summer days. Eventually it bears flowers, leaves… and yes; if it is the right kind of tree it offers fruits.

“I’m looking for a job so I’m here networking…” is like saying “It’s almost lunchtime and I’m hungry so let’s plant a fruit tree…” I just doesn’t work like that. Now each of us is in a rush and have little time to just be friends with EVERYONE we meet but those who have taken the time and made the effort in the right area for the right length of time have shown their commitment to that area over others and it is PRECISELY the reason why their network will pay off in that area eventually. We need to nurture our network like we take care of a plant. We need to nourish it, protect it with constant effort, and shelter it in good times and in bad so that it grows and flourishes. If we are too busy to network we IMPLICITLY say this is not important enough to me to be a priority. There are a hundred urgencies that could EASILY displace this activity from our daily routine. But we do this at our own peril. When we are hungry, or need shelter from the storm we cannot expect the network to sustain us and to do for us what we have not done for it. Far too often young professionals network actively until they find their first job and then simply drop out of the networking scene. They are soon not missed any more and then even forgotten while their employers get full days of dedicated work. Unfortunately, their job situations being what they are these days they soon find themselves dusting off the old rolodex and trying to resurrect old acquaintances. This is like trying to water a plant that one has put in the closet for a few years and forgotten about. People have moved on. They are busy moving their own networks forward and most of all they remember that the last time you used them until you didn’t have an immediate need for them. This implicitly made fools of them and pointed up their inability to judge who to trust and this is something people remember. There’s an old saying “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on ME”. So more than not being useful, the old efforts may actually act AGAINST you if you pursue a shortsighted view of the networking game. People base their decisions about who to help out on TRUST and RESPECT and that is only built over time and with steady constant effort. I know we are all busy but I’m sorry; there is simply no quick fix to this problem. Make the commitment early and STICK with it. Don’t be on the lookout to harvest what you have barely planted.