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Networking: A New Manifesto

Exploring the intersection between digital connection, community strategy, local communities, belonging, permaculture principles, sustainability, and psychology. My work analyses the systems that prop up our current networking practices and looks at practical steps we can unlearn to build stronger networks that serve both people and the planet.

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Networking: A New Manifesto (for the 21st century)

Imagine this; you have seen a networking event that piques your interest. Perhaps it was the event topic that drew you in, the venue that you are familiar with, or someone who has invited you along. You sign up for the event, feeling both curious and excited for what’s in store. Maybe this event will lead you to your dream job, the client you’ve dreamed of working with, or the mentor you need to steer you in the right direction. You arrive feeling nervous but hopeful. As the evening unfolds,...

Two birds on a wire facing away from one another

Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 👇 1️⃣ Selling services on social media If there is one trend I’ve seen growing over the past few years, it's the reluctance of people to buy from service-based businesses solely based on social media. While products on social media still seem appealing, service-based businesses need to look beyond socials. Relationships, and that means networking, are key. A post might generate likes and engagement, but ask...

A row of many birds on a telephone wire

3 Ideas to Help You Cultivate More Connection This Week 👇 1️⃣ Champion the Authors You KnowBooks have been on my mind this week, specifically books by people I know. After almost 8 years creating content on LinkedIn, I've had the pleasure of getting to know several authors. I also co-authored a self-published book nearly five years ago, so I understand the work, love, and sometimes pain that goes into writing. One lesson I learned from my co-author Nicole Johnston (who sadly passed away last...

A bird on wire at sunrise

✨ Here are three new ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week ✨ 1️⃣ Stop "Networking" – Start Community BuildingIf the word "networking" makes your skin crawl, you're not alone. The term has become loaded with expectations of forced small talk and transactional relationships. Here's the thing: you can drop it entirely. Not the activities, drop the word.Instead, think of it as community building. This reframe will help you approach it differently. Community building...

Two birds on a wire facing one another

Here are 3 ideas to help you cultivate more connection in your life this week 👇 1️⃣ Practice Magic I don’t mean the tricks; I mean practising, crafting, and developing an understanding of magical questions. I am a fan of Priya Parker's work and her book The Art of Gathering, and she’s recently been talking about Magical Questions. A magical question helps a group meaningfully connect. It asks a relevant question that everyone can answer, and one that everyone is interested in hearing other...

💬 As part of my new weekly series, here are three ideas to help you cultivate more connection this week: 1️⃣ Support Your Existing Activities Use social media to support your existing activities. You're missing a huge opportunity if you aren't connecting with people you already interact with daily and new people you meet through current work activities. Connect with these people on LinkedIn, or follow them on Instagram or your platform of choice. This includes customers, suppliers, speakers...

Hello friends, For those that missed the news last Friday, I’m starting a new series today—three ideas each week to help you build connection in your life. I will send these via email to subscribers each week and post on LinkedIn. The online posts allow for discussion and reflection, so please let me know your thoughts online if you'd like! Here are three ideas that might help you cultivate connection in your life this week.1️⃣ Embrace the awkwardMy golden rule of human interaction (I’ll...

Birds gathering on two wires

Hello friend, Heads up—I'm starting something new: a weekly newsletter featuring three ideas on how to cultivate connection in your life. These will range from big concepts to small tips, sometimes just adding a bit of fun to build into your week. Some ideas will resonate with everyone who attends events, while others will speak directly to event organisers. I'll cover both offline and online interactions, some LinkedIn-specific insights (because that's my jam!) and other ideas applicable to...

I outlined my thoughts on networking last month and why I feel we are off track. If you missed it, you can read it here. Before we can analyse networking, why we do it, and how we might do it better, I believe we must first define what networking is and perhaps understand where the definition of what we know as networking has come from. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, networking is defined as: The exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions....

This post was originally published on LinkedIn on 15/10/22. You can view the original here. I talk to a lot of people about starting and building communities. It is so often the reason people come to me in a work capacity, and when it isn't, it's a subject that usually comes up quickly in conversation. People want to build spaces for connection and belonging not just for others but, in many cases, for themselves. There is a certain glamour to founding something, be it a company but also in...