Asking For Help Rather Than Offering And 9 Other Networking Mistakes You Might Be Making

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Making withdrawals before deposits

“Trying to make withdrawals from relationships that you have not deposited into,” is another no-no according to Nyanue. “You meet someone who seems nice, and then it’s ‘Can you introduce me to this person?’ ‘Can you get me this opportunity?’ I don’t know you. Why would I put my name on the line for someone I don’t know? It makes you look like a social climber instead of someone who is really invested in the relationship,” she said. “People only engage when it’s convenient for them. They show up when it’s convenient. And they are hurt when what they want isn’t reciprocated to them. A network will only be as valuable as the deposits you put into it. You show up for people, not knowing what you’ll get from it, because you care about the relationship. If from the start you’re more concerned with what you can get, those relationships will not be very fruitful.”