by Tony Jones, CEO, One Nucleus

Photography by www.SimonCallaghanPhotography.com

Posing the question to myself of whether networking has impacted my career and professional life, then I feel the short answer is an absolute yes. Given I am CEO at an organisation that, among other forms of support, delivers networking opportunities for employees of our member organisations, that may not be too surprising, you may think. Let me explain why I think networking has been key to my career journey, and perhaps it will then also explain why I’ve ended up in the role I am in – a logic I had not considered until writing this article.

Finding my energy source

As with any journey, there is always a beginning, which is often easier to see in hindsight than at the time. I would like to say I started my professional career with a clear aspiration of what I wanted to achieve with an incredible plan of how I was going to get there. Alas, that was not the case. If I take stock of what I had learned by the time I was a post-doc in cancer research in the mid-1990s, then some things were clear both in terms of my skills and competence and in what made me tick and gave me energy. Not that I could have articulated these at the time, but I can try and summarise with the benefit of hindsight as follows:

It is networking that has enabled me to develop a career that gives me that energy and passion required to feel fulfilled, better informed, and more confident. No wonder, and probably why, I ended up working at a membership organisation like One Nucleus!

What has networking given me?

• Networking has first and foremost opened my eyes to collaboration, career and personal development opportunities I would never have expected at the outset.
• Reflecting on my own experience, the informal training and development I have received from networking is immense. I have gained knowledge across so many related topics to my role at any point in time. Networking has provided breadth to complement the more focussed depth of any formal training.
• The breadth of insight I receive through networking continues now to meet the curiosity need that provides me with the energy and passion to want to succeed.
• Sharing my own views and insights with others meets the need of wanting to play even a small part in making a difference.
• Over time, connections through networking have become some of my most trusted friends and professional advisors.
• I am fortunate, I know, to consistently network not just with intelligent and innovative people who are experts in their field, but those same people are humorous, curious, and human beings who make the world feel like a better place.

Great employers

From the time I started my career, I have been fortunate enough to work for managers and companies that realise the value of networking. Connectivity is everything for a business, especially in a sector that relies on so many external relationships to move things forward. From the days in lab research to entering technology transfer and later non-profit membership groups, every employer has provided the chance to get out and meet people as part of my role and my development. Almost every job and collaboration I have explored has arisen through networking. I would like to think that I am a CEO who provides similar encouragement and support to my colleagues, enabling them to experience the benefits of networking as I have.

I should stress, those same employers never undervalued the benefit of formal training and qualifications where they enabled me to be better at my job and progress my own career – whether that was with them or elsewhere. Nobody would suggest the informal learning via networking could replace the formal formats, but reality exists when it comes to budgets, time, and resources.

Things I Dislike

There are very few negatives I find in networking as an activity. I could write how I find it creates another time-consuming task or means I need to travel or be late home. In reality, whilst some of those things can be true, they are minor compared to the benefits.

What I dislike about networking is perhaps in some other participants’ behaviours. Not that I find anyone uninteresting, uninformative or not a source of learning. It is more about behaviours. A good example for me is the confusion between networking and selling. I find it hard to believe anyone wishes to see someone targeting them, business card (or these days a LinkedIn QR code) at the ready, launching in to telling you what they sell only to collect your business card and move on to work the room. Whether they do this to everyone or just the chosen few they have marked on a delegate list is sometimes unclear. What is clear is that it generally doesn’t work in my experience. In networking, those that give generously of their time, are curious about others, and look to build a rapport and connection will ultimately do more deals. Sadly, too much of the pushy behaviour is one reason that deters the very contacts the salesman wishes to build a connection with from attending the event at all.

My second gripe, if I may, is how networking is often taught. There are huge amounts of advice and text written about how to network, which can’t all be wrong, so it may just be me, but it strikes me that so much in networking is common sense and being human rather than a process. If describing an approach to networking with advice such as (i) the next person you meet may be your next employer; (ii) have your elevator pitch ready; (iii) be sure to follow up the next day; or (iv) target odd numbered groups, then I am not sure that helps. There is a point where all of those things are true and applicable, but don’t let those ‘rules’ crowd out common sense. Read the room, and if three people are deep in conversation, they may not want disturbing. Sometimes it is an interesting conversation, but no needless follow-up is required. Be yourself, not an elevator pitch, and don’t assume every five-minute chat is an interview. If you are set up to feel success is judged on a job offer or sale from the networking event, then you are likely to fail, leading to one of two outcomes. First, the person thinks they are poor at networking, or second, they think networking is not valuable – both are poor outcomes.   

My Pride in the One Nucleus Networking Offer

There is increasing appetite and demand now in the workplace for learning and development. It is well documented that Gen Z employees have a stronger preference and motivation for more training and development than previous employee generations. As mentioned, nobody would underestimate the value of formal training, I am sure, but times are tough for any business right now to be able to resource learning and development of employees.

Aligning with my desire to be able to make a difference, the events and networking opportunities One Nucleus provides in an inclusive and friendly atmosphere is key to some of the One Nucleus impact. The focus on being not an organisation but a community where it feels safe to air ideas, challenge others, ask for help and, importantly, to refer onwards is how One Nucleus is able to play its small part in changing lives. That change being in enabling innovation to deliver better patient outcomes or in helping participants build their careers and success. Just as networking has served me well.

It is also important we keep in mind how budgets for One Nucleus members are very stretched at present, either to formally train employees or sadly to help enable those they have to let go to continue learning and connecting to their next job. With that in mind, I will finish this article with some key takeaway messages about how One Nucleus helps members help themselves and their staff:

• Employees of all One Nucleus member organisations can attend the networking events free of charge.
• Networking is not just for senior leaders. If the C-suite aren’t attending, why not allow others from beginner upwards to attend and learn broadly about the industry, connect, and be your ambassador – they might become your biggest asset
• When budgets don’t allow, providing staff with free or discounted networking opportunities is a great way to address the Gen Z appetite for continual learning
• When leaders do have to make redundancies, as a member, those staff can benefit from the remaining membership year, enabling them to develop and potentially land another role.

From some people who know

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them.” – Steve Jobs

“Networking is more about farming than it is about hunting. It’s about cultivating relationships.” – Ivan Misner

“The richest people in the world build networks. Everyone else is trained to look for work.” – Robert Kiyosaki