Networking........

While we are going gung-ho drumming the beat about this new found Networking idea, I was wondering that Aristotle may have known nothing about networking when he gave us this famous quote of “Man is a social animal” about centuries ago. Man by nature cannot work in isolation, there has to be a reward for their hard work and attaining a prominence in their social stature is the biggest recognition they thrive on! In recent times, the similar thought and philosophy has taken a totally new dimension and terminology called “Networking” as the new age mantra.

However, this so called new age mantra that has emerged as a key technique in modern sociology for success in professional or interpersonal profiles dates its roots or origin back to good old ancient days. During the time of our forefathers before the innovation of television or internet people would naturally meet or connect with each other to get things done. Local groups and meetings were formed to know each other and exchanging views and ideas and to make sure that they are able to help each other out! However, over a period of time, this noble and need based idea turned into making only powerful and influential connections to meet their own selfish ends at the cost of plundering on someone else’s rights eventually taking a very corrupt form in the soceity called favoritism and nepotism. Merit started taking a back seat. You just needed to suck up to somebody for your own purposes. The obvious losers were the ones who didn’t learn this art and just believed in doing the work honestly and diligently and earning the recognition for the work that they are doing, not because they knew the right people. In countries like India this phenomena has taken the most corrupt form in the society. Without the right connections rather political connections, its hard to find your way through the maze. One is pushed back far behind in the queue even for the most genuine causes like getting treatments and finding a good doctor!You have to be a big shot and know some top bureaucrat to be able to get the best treatment possible. Yes of course, makes sense, after all their health is way too important than any common man on the street!

Recently , when networking is being so heavily propagated as the most effective alliance building solution in hopes of landing a job through referrals or connections or knowing the right people , I sometimes tend to fear that it may end up turn into favoritism and become unfair to those who are not so socially active due to many reasons( especially women who are single moms or have small kids) or may be because of their own volition, but are working toward building on their skills and doing the right kind of work. They may end up getting lost despite being the most deserving candidate and may not find the right opportunity because they didn’t know the people inside. This is true in present scenario more so because it’s such a difficult time economically and people are desperate!

I am not against the idea of networking per se, I personally relish the different perspectives a lot and enjoy getting involved in the stimulating conversations immensely, and I find this whole exercise it to be extremely enriching and rewarding as well. What's causing me stress is the fact that it has solely been propagated as a job finding solution in the present scenario. “Go out there, meet the right kind of people and become visible” renders it a very negative connotation. If the ulterior motive behind joining any organization or meeting someone new is merely to find a job then the basic purpose of learning and growing doesn’t make sense at all. Merit shouldn’t go a total waste just because some people didn’t learn the art of sucking up the right people. I read on linked where some writers were concerned if its ok to write something in the lighter mood or not so professional on their blogsite or bio page, as potential employers may be looking!! Yeah right, how about walking to the gym in our formals now as we might meet with a potential employer on our way somewhere??


The term “Networking” has a very meaningful and broader horizon. Mentoring, helping each other out,trying to create more opportunities, growing and building on our strengths for the larger benefit of ourselves and our society are some of them. Making it a personal marketing tool or rendering it a platform of merely landing a job makes it very limiting and constricting. I personally, do get involved with communities and local chapters and form an association with them and volunteer to do some work, but that’s because I like doing that. Its all about the nature and personality of people. Some people like to do things silently and some do everything out loud.

Difference is; we don’t hear the silence and they go unappreciated!