When Networking Doesn’t Come Naturally

Listen to Marissa King as she explores some of the key aspects that make up a meaningful connection when networking.

Well, we can think about the structure of our network as the longer, more enduring traces of our interactions. Another key thing to think about when you’re thinking about your own networks are what those momentary interactions look like. We know that these momentary interactions, which are often referred to as high-quality connections, have a huge impact on our own wellbeing, our cognitive resilience, and our momentary happiness. And those momentary interactions are often created through non-verbal interaction and presence.

There’s a wide range of literature that has examined this within psychology. So we know, for instance, that touch is profoundly important for creating a sense of connection. And while that can often be difficult to navigate in the workplace, touch is really, really important, so be aware of that. And in contrast, particularly during our most recent times, the lack of touch can have an important impact.

There’s also a wide range of research showing the importance of mimicry. So the extent to which two people are mirroring one another in a conversation is a strong predictor of lots of things, from negotiation outcomes to a sense of liking. But often those things are quite hard to navigate, whether it’s touch or mimicry because much of that behaviour is unconscious – so it’s quite difficult. But some of the behaviours that we know that produce this strong sense of connection in the moment really come from behaviours that are much easier to learn and practise over time.