{"id":1611,"date":"2023-03-14T09:01:15","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/3-tips-to-unlock-the-power-of-genuine-networking\/"},"modified":"2023-03-14T09:01:15","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:01:15","slug":"3-tips-to-unlock-the-power-of-genuine-networking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/3-tips-to-unlock-the-power-of-genuine-networking\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tips to Unlock the Power of Genuine Networking"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise that connection brings you closer to people, especially when you\u2019re with the right people at the right time. This is what networking is all about: bonding with people for professional reasons but in a connection-inspiring environment.<\/p>\n<p>Humans are social creatures that need other people for survival. And even though we don\u2019t have to look for danger at every corner and keep ourselves safe anymore, people need people for growth and evolution in any aspect of their lives.<\/p>\n<p>This is where <strong>Keith Ferrazzi<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>the world\u2019s leading networking expert and trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s <em>Mastering Authentic Networking <\/em>Quest, comes in. With his guidance, you can deepen your knowledge on:<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, walking into a room full of people may feel like it\u2019s going to give you the worst social anxiety. However, improving these abilities will not only contribute to your professional development but, on a personal level, it might empower you to feel a deeper sense of belonging.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/a08e37e2-networking-keith-ferrazzi-\u00a9andrewburnsphoto.com_.webp\" alt=\"Keith Ferrazzi\" class=\"wp-image-66768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/a08e37e2-networking-keith-ferrazzi-\u00a9andrewburnsphoto.com_.webp 1200w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/a08e37e2-networking-keith-ferrazzi-\u00a9andrewburnsphoto.com_-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/a08e37e2-networking-keith-ferrazzi-\u00a9andrewburnsphoto.com_-736x491.webp 736w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/a08e37e2-networking-keith-ferrazzi-\u00a9andrewburnsphoto.com_-442x295.webp 442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Keith Ferrazzi, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s <em>Mastering Authentic Networking <\/em>Quest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-networking\">What Is Networking?<\/h2>\n<p>Networking means meeting new people who share your interests, passions, or ideas about a topic. Usually, these connections happen between people in the same industry, but it\u2019s not a general rule to be followed.<\/p>\n<p>As Keith explains, <em>\u201cEverything you hope to achieve in your life, professionally or personally, is going to be achieved with and through other people, full stop.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the essence of networking: realizing that connections make us stronger. It\u2019s not about taking advantage, but rather using our togetherness as fuel for our evolution.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Keith Ferrazzi, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s <em>Mastering Authentic Networking <\/em>Quest<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"h-why-is-networking-important\">Why Is Networking Important?<\/h2>\n<p>According to relational collaborative sciences, as explained by Keith in the Quest, <strong>relationships are the key to your success<\/strong>. He encourages you to see beyond business cards and recommendation letters; what creates true meaning and brings results are the authentic interactions you get to experience.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/23971043_Effects_of_Networking_on_Career_Success_A_Longitudinal_Study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">longitudinal study<\/a> from 2009 showed that networking is related to overall career growth and successful achievements over a longer period of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more, Keith tells the story of how he would have never fulfilled his potential in the world if it weren\u2019t for the people he met in his life. With those relationships, he received meaningful opportunities and gifts. As a result, he felt he had to give them back to the world.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few more benefits of powerful networking when done well:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improving your confidence and <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/social-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">social skills<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Connecting to people with similar passions and values<\/li>\n<li>Having new opportunities in case you\u2019re thinking about a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/career-change\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">career change<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Expanding your vision of your professional life<\/li>\n<li>Feeling supported on your career growth journey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Of course, everyone\u2019s experience with networking can differ, depending on personal interests and near-future goals.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Success in life equals the people that you meet, and what you create with them, what you co-create with them.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Keith Ferrazzi, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s <em>Mastering Authentic Networking <\/em>Quest<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"h-professional-networking\">Professional Networking<\/h2>\n<p>As mentioned, authentic connection is the foundation of networking. With that comes being able to ask for help or advice, share knowledge, and celebrate success together.<\/p>\n<p>This would be the goal of professional networking. And to do so, it\u2019s important to have the right people around you.<\/p>\n<p>Your professional network could include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Friends<\/li>\n<li>Coworkers<\/li>\n<li>Members of professional clubs or associations<\/li>\n<li>Even members of your extended family<\/li>\n<li>Acquaintances of people you work with<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A good idea might be to mix up the kinds of networking events you start attending. According to an <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2016\/09\/dont-waste-your-time-on-networking-events?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=hbr&amp;utm_source=LinkedIn&amp;tpcc=orgsocial_edit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">article<\/a> published in the <em>Harvard Business Review<\/em>, traditional professional networking might not be as effective as some of the alternatives.<\/p>\n<p>Think about the possibility of hosting your own events, organizing a more intimate gathering with only a few people, or reconnecting with people from your professional past that you haven\u2019t followed up with in a while.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/29a2e50e-networking-pexels-luana-freitas.webp\" alt=\"People networking\" class=\"wp-image-66767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/29a2e50e-networking-pexels-luana-freitas.webp 1200w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/29a2e50e-networking-pexels-luana-freitas-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/29a2e50e-networking-pexels-luana-freitas-736x491.webp 736w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/29a2e50e-networking-pexels-luana-freitas-442x295.webp 442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"h-what-questions-to-ask-when-networking\">What questions to ask when networking?<\/h3>\n<p>Keith underlines the importance of creating intimacy between you and the people you\u2019d like to connect with professionally. Because genuine human connection is deeply felt and needed in every interaction.<\/p>\n<p>So, of course, you can ask the common question of what you\u2019re interested in regarding their jobs, careers, or acquaintances. But first, make sure that it comes from a place of curiosity and authentic interest.<\/p>\n<p>To create this bond, you can use the FORD technique recommended by Keith:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Family. <\/strong>Ask about their family, not in an intrusive way, but rather in the sense of showing care and interest in their personal day-to-day life. Try something like <em>\u201cWhat do you love to do with your family?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Occupation. <\/strong>You can think about asking what their occupation is, but also add questions like <em>\u201cWhat made you choose this career path?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Recreation. <\/strong>How do they spend their free time? What activities make them enthusiastic and full of energy? You can also ask something like <em>\u201cHow does your ideal recreation day look like?\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dreams. <\/strong>You can talk about where they see themselves in the next few years and what their biggest dreams are. Asking a question regarding their dreams from a genuine place may sound something like <em>\u201cWhat excites you the most about making your dreams come true?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may be surprised how many insights you get from having the common \u201csmall talk.\u201d It can open up interesting conversations, perspectives, and opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Learn five powerful questions for authentic connections, explained by Keith himself:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"\/>\n<h2 id=\"h-social-networking\">Social Networking<\/h2>\n<p>Social networking refers to using social media platforms in order to stay in touch with people you\u2019ve connected with professionally in the past or meet new ones.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/272014\/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2022 statistics<\/a>, the most common platform for social networking is Facebook. Other social media tools you can use to connect with people are Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.<\/p>\n<p>These social platforms are also a great way to attract potential clients and employers you\u2019d like to interact with. And you can possibly meet these connections in real life, which will expand your professional network.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-networking-skills\">What Are Networking Skills?<\/h2>\n<p>Networking skills are a set of abilities that help you connect with people easily for professional reasons. They include a number of <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/soft-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">soft skills<\/a> that are useful in the process.<\/p>\n<p>A few examples of great networking are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Interpersonal skills<\/li>\n<li>Relationship management<\/li>\n<li>Professionalism<\/li>\n<li>Active listening<\/li>\n<li>Public speaking<\/li>\n<li>Nonverbal communication<\/li>\n<li>Empathy and compassion<\/li>\n<li>Confidence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s not always possible to immediately access your best social abilities, but this is something anyone can work on. By taking into consideration a few tips and tricks, you will surely see a difference in your networking capabilities.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-improve-networking-skills\">How to Improve Networking Skills<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Life is about work. Work is about life. And both are about people.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Keith Ferrazzi, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s <em>Mastering Authentic Networking <\/em>Quest<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Here are a few tips from Keith on how to improve your most authentic networking skills:<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-1-discover-the-genius-of-audacity\">1. Discover the genius of audacity<\/h3>\n<p>Keith advises you to reflect on how getting out of your comfort zone will expand and improve any area of your life. And of course, you can start by doing so with the people you most want to connect with.<\/p>\n<p>He shares a few examples of actions you can take:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Career-wise. <\/strong>Pick somebody that you admire. Send them an email. Ask for a coffee or lunch. Come prepared with questions. Ask for homework. Follow up with gratitude by sending an email. Say that you respect and admire them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sales-wise. <\/strong>Ask a current client or a prospect what they are interested in learning more about. Offer your research. Connect with an influencer on social media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Social-wise. <\/strong>Reach out to somebody who is interesting to you. Research their hobbies, their passions. You can invite them to an event.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can try these out and just let yourself be surprised by how much people can open up and admire your audacity to take the first step.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-2-identify-5-packets-of-generosity\">2. Identify 5 packets of generosity<\/h3>\n<p>Keith highlights the importance of generosity when wanting to extend your social network. So instead of thinking\u00a0 <em>\u201cWhat can they offer me?\u201d<\/em>, you can instead think of ways you can add more value to their lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few suggestions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Give a compliment.<\/strong> Share what you have learned\/gained from interacting with the person or their work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Introduce and recommend the person<\/strong> to your manager or someone else critical to their success.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Offer research<\/strong> that might be beneficial for the business that the person runs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Suggest reading some books<\/strong> that would help the person grow (personally or professionally)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Share a contact<\/strong> of a person you know that could help them with a challenge they\u2019re currently facing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You\u2019ll notice that the more you have to offer from a genuine place, the more likely people are to open up and share their knowledge.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-3-avoid-being-the-networking-jerk\">3. Avoid being the \u201cnetworking jerk\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>There are some mistakes people make, says Keith, that are to be avoided when wanting to connect truly. Usually, these \u201cmistakes\u201d don\u2019t aid the interaction but rather create distance between people.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few tips from Keith to avoid being the \u201cnetworking jerk,\u201d as he calls it:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t schmooze. <\/strong>Ask questions with kindness or curiosity. Don\u2019t let yourself fall into a place of wanting to manipulate. You want people to feel like you\u2019re sinking down into your heart when having a conversation, not into your head.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t gossip. <\/strong>Don\u2019t engage in gossip and never start it. You don\u2019t want others to think you\u2019re \u201cone of those people.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t come empty-handed. <\/strong>Generosity is key, so never come unprepared. What that means is also about not coming with low energy, curiosity, and interest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t fake it. <\/strong>Just remember that you can never fake generosity, authenticity, caring, or being curious. Always connect back to your heart and remember to be as close to your purest intentions as possible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t undervalue yourself or overestimate someone else\u2019s time. <\/strong>This means that you should never believe that you\u2019re unimportant to a person you\u2019d genuinely like to interact with because you don\u2019t have the same social status. It\u2019s only a part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/limiting-beliefs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">limiting belief<\/a> you may have and it\u2019s not serving you.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By becoming more and more aware of these things, you\u2019ll notice how your energy shifts, simultaneously with the energy of the people around you. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around, right?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/54e1ce87-networking-pexels-helena-lopes.webp\" alt=\"Two people networking in a cafe\" class=\"wp-image-66765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/54e1ce87-networking-pexels-helena-lopes.webp 1200w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/54e1ce87-networking-pexels-helena-lopes-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/54e1ce87-networking-pexels-helena-lopes-736x491.webp 736w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/mv-prod-blog-en-assets\/2023\/03\/54e1ce87-networking-pexels-helena-lopes-442x295.webp 442w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-great-change-starts-with-embracing-connection\">Great Change Starts With Embracing Connection<\/h2>\n<p>Connection is one of the primal needs people have. And it\u2019s no surprise that you can use it to elevate all aspects of your existence.<\/p>\n<p>If and when you feel a blockage in your ability to connect, a great thing to do is look out for the right guidance to take you through this process. And Mindvalley is the place to be for dealing with those barriers.<\/p>\n<p>You can discover powerful insights and train your social skills through transformational programs, such as the <strong><em>Mastering Authentic Networking<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em>Quest with Keith Ferrazzi. With his expertise and charismatic personality, he can slowly spark transformation and change from within.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/signup\/?utm_source=blog_inline_link&amp;utm_campaign=evergreen_freemium&amp;utm_medium=end_of_article&amp;otag=mv_blog_freemium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>claiming your free access<\/strong><\/a> today, you can try out classes from this program and many others to see if this powerful wisdom is right for you.<\/p>\n<p>And the best part of it all is that you\u2019re never alone on your journey, especially in the Mindvalley community. There are people all over the world with whom you can share your hopes and dreams and practice your best networking skills.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be afraid to open up to connection today. Welcome in.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s no surprise that connection brings you closer to people, especially when you\u2019re with the right people at the right time. This is what networking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}