Empowering Bytes: Authentic Networking for Meaningful Relationships
The conversation between Nkechi Nwafor-Robinson and Gaby Mammone unfolds around the vital role of networking in personal and professional growth. The hosts set the stage by discussing the misconceptions surrounding networking, often seen as an intimidating task reserved for extroverts. They shed light on the fact that networking can occur in various settings and is not limited to formal events. This discussion introduces the idea that we, as humans, are constantly transmitting energy and opportunities for connection, often in our daily lives. This insight encourages listeners to view every interaction as a potential moment for networking, thereby reducing the pressure associated with traditional networking scenarios.
The episode delves into the significance of building authentic relationships rather than focusing solely on expanding one’s contact list. Gaby reflects on her experiences, illustrating how deep connections formed through genuine conversations often lead to collaborative opportunities that benefit both parties. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and openness in networking, suggesting that sharing personal stories can enhance the quality of interactions. This focus on cultivating meaningful relationships rather than mere acquaintances is a recurring theme throughout the episode.
Furthermore, Nkechi and Gabby touch upon the concept of the 'super connector,' an individual who not only networks effectively for themselves but also facilitates connections among others. They share strategies for overcoming networking anxiety, including the practical approach of asking five questions to spark deeper conversations. The episode wraps up with a powerful reminder that networking is not a one-time event but a continuous journey that can lead to profound opportunities and support systems in one’s personal and professional life. They encourage listeners to embrace their unique networking styles and to approach each interaction with curiosity and a genuine desire to connect.
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Find us online: https://linktr.ee/nkechinwaforrobinson
Transcript
Great day, amazing human. Welcome to the Empowered in my skin podcast, where our mission is to help 1 billion people in this world think in more empowering ways.
Empowered humans empower humans. So you are in the right spot to become a lead domino for empowerment today. My name is Inkechi.
I'm not only your host, but I am a vibrant optimist to bring you empowering content with each episode, we will be bringing you content, alternating between longer episodes with feature guests and shorter episodes called Empowering Bites, where I'll be joined by my co host, Gabby Mamone. So if you're ready, let the show begin. Great day, amazing humans.
Gaby:Yes. Welcome to the next episode of Empowering Bites, and I'm here with my co host, Gabriela Gabby. One b.
Nkechi:You know, we should do karaoke one day together. Something tells me you would be so good.
Gaby:No karaoke for this girl.
Nkechi:No karaoke for this girl. You're more of a board game person on a Friday night. I get it, I get it.
Gaby:I love it.
Nkechi:I get it. Again, it's good to see you, too. And I know that we're going to be talking about one of our mutual favorite topics today.
Gaby:That is correct.
Nkechi:Networking.
Gaby:Yes. The art of network. Your network is your net worth.
Nkechi:I love it.
Gaby:Your net worth. It is so important.
Nkechi:Yeah.
Gaby: I. You and I met probably in: Nkechi:Oh, my gosh, yes. Has it been that long? No, no, no.
Gaby:I. No, no, no. It was sooner. It was more recent to that. We met just before I did speaker slam. Didn't. Wasn't it?
Nkechi:Yeah, it was on John Rivera.
Gaby: So it was: Nkechi:2018. But still.
Gaby:Wow. Fearless voices show shout outs to John and what, Sandra Sandro. Yeah. Sandra and John for their event that brought Gabby and I together.
I remember being so humored and enamored by your speaking abilities and the story that you told. I still remember that. And then, yeah, we connected after, and we've never actually, you know, we then got.
We got further connected through the network of Speaker Slam. Right. You helped me with my speech and you came and you supported me and. Yeah, it's just.
Anyway, it's been a beautiful relationship that started from really a networking event.
Nkechi:Networking, yeah, yeah, networking and networking is so beautiful. Like, there's so many benefits.
And so we thought this would be a great episode because not everybody is maybe comfortable with networking or maybe there's some fear. And so we thought we would talk about, you know, why it's so important and how to overcome fear, and let's have a really good conversation.
And, you know, as you listen to this episode or watch it on YouTube, you know, drop some questions, we would love to answer them, because networking, it's part of today.
Gaby:It's actually. So here's my thing. So let's. Let me. And this is, this is only NKT. This is absolutely. There's.
This is not founded on any science or just any other, but, yeah, I think. I think for everyone, like, because you brought up the whole subject, like, around fear, I think then let's. Let's. Let's just break it down.
Let's simplify it as much as possible. As a human being, I truly do believe we are constantly transmitting. Right? Yeah, for sure.
And now maybe I'm in my technology brain, because networking transmit and all this and the other, but how many times have you ever have you picked up the phone to call somebody? They're like, oh, my God, I was just thinking about you.
Nkechi:Yeah, totally. That's connection.
Gaby:You know what I mean? Like, there's always something, like you thinking about something, and then next thing you know, you see that person today, and they're like, oh, my.
It was just thinking about you this morning. So as human beings, I truly do believe that we are always transmitting.
And for the main fact that they were always transmitting, I want you to start considering yourself as a live, walking network.
Nkechi:I love it.
Gaby:Right. That's constantly transmitting.
And so as you're transmitting, whether or not it's, like, on the train, or whether it's at sobeys or for those of them in Canada, or whether you're at, like, JCPenney, or whether you're at a stadium and enjoying a sports, or whether you're, you know, out and about walking on the street and your neighborhood, I love it. Like it is.
These are all opportunities so far as there's another human being to create a moment of connection, that's like, networking is a moment of connection.
Nkechi:I love it so much. Yeah.
Gaby:But I think that when we keep it or we hold it as, oh, I have to go to an event to network, then you've complicated it. You get what I'm saying? Now I'm an introvert, which is, like, a huge categorization, because I do believe I've seen introverts be extroverts as well.
But anyway, that's a whole. We did a Gogan search on our episode around labels, but.
But, yeah, when you start to make it like, oh, my God, I have to go to an event to network, then you lose all these other really basic opportunities. But every time you're in a meeting and we open up the call talking about weekends and this, that, guess what? We're networking with each other.
Like, you know what I mean? We're transmitting, we're conversating, we're creating these moments of connections.
Nkechi:One of the things that you said that really resonated with me is the importance of creating the connections. Because I remember days, many, many years ago when I was solely doing sales and I would go to networking events.
I was fixated on how many business cards I could come home with. So it was about how many contacts could I collect, you know, and I would put them in that little portfolio of business cards. I know I was.
I went all out.
Gaby:No, no, I'm saying that I used to have, like, stacks, and then I was like, I had nowhere to put them.
Nkechi:And then.
But that was collecting contacts. That wasn't building relationships. There's a very big difference now.
And so now as we're networking, what's important is really just going deep, moving beyond the small talk. It's not like, hi, how are you? I'm fine. How are you? Fine, thank you. And then it's awkward, right? There doesn't have to be awkwardness.
You can actually go deep and saying how, you know, hi, how are you? And then your response is something like what you did today, like, I am so great. I had a wonderful meeting with my employer today.
And, you know, we came to this agreement, or, I am so excited for the weekend because I going to take my daughter to the park. And so what you're doing is you're building a connection. That's networking. That's networking.
And so I think by doing that, it helps you push through the awkwardness of conversing with someone. You can be vulnerable, you can chat about your day, and it's just really allowing people to go deep into a conversation. And that's how you connect.
That's how you and I connected. You know, we went deep and we got to know each other, and then you. You connect that way. I never got your business card.
Gaby:No, you never did. Before anyone says, oh, my God, I don't like sharing. It's not.
I always say, forget about sharing, because you're not about having to share your most deepest, darkest secrets. It's expression. Express yourself about life. Right? Like, just express you.
Be a little bit more open to just like, allowing a little bit more expression to come through you. And so it's interesting because even my. I mean, I ran a really awesome workshop. Shameless pug on call the art of networking.
Nkechi:I love it.
Gaby:And then I did a 2.0, which is now. It was, I think it was called the art of networking 2.0. And I still have not released my third, which I'm probably 3.0, which is now.
This is what I truly do believe is that my desire is to be a super connector. And so I'm, yeah, I network. I still, like, I love meeting people, love creating those moments of connection.
However, I'm always listening for how I'm going to be in their network and how they're going to be in mine, and so positioning myself as this super connector so that when person a down the road comes to me and asks me for help, I, inkei Chi, may not be able to help them, but because I have done and created, like, this rolodex of people in different industries and experiences and circumstances and situations, and I've created moments of connections with them that I've cultivated and nurtured, I now have this ability to be. To be a great person who's connecting a great person to another great person that I truly believe is what is the definition of a super connector.
And so I just, I network now to more so be a powerful hub, though, meaning that when people come to me, I can actually leave them.
I love, I'm gonna use your word, leave them in the space of increase and increase, leaving them with something that they didn't have before they came in and had a connection with me. And so.
And that could just be a name or a connect to somebody whom they're gonna reach out to next, I think, I think if we do that, I think that's another great way, is, like, networking doesn't have to be selfish. And for you, which, and I know you want to say something, but before I lose my thought, I was. I also always say the networking is never. For now, yes.
And if there's ever a time in this world that has taught us that is Covid and even, even on today, like, I literally hired onto my team last month, someone I worked with, like, 20 years ago, like at Roger, you know what I mean?
And so, and that was just a simple LinkedIn connect in February, because I was looking for somebody that worked at an organization, found out they worked there, reached out to them, and of course, because we had those great moments of connect way back when, which carried, which carried through the decades when we connected, they're like, oh, my God, it's so great to.
And it was like we never had all that space in between without talking, you know, and then they helped me, and then later on, I posted a role and they reached out and said, hey, are you hiring? Like. And I was like, anyway, so. So, yeah, your network is never for now. It's always for a point in time in the future.
Like, even, even as a super connector, even though I'm making that connection today, it's gonna be someone who's gonna come down a year from now, three months, six months, two years from now with this ask, and I'm going to be like, oh, my God, I know somebody. You know, I love that.
Nkechi:And I know that you're a super connector. You've connected me to many people as well over our years of knowing each other, vice versa. Yeah.
I would like to address the question of fear from a perspective of, there are some people probably listening that maybe aren't comfortable with networking, maybe consider themselves to be introverts or fearful. You know, do you have any advice for someone that maybe finds it awkward or finds it uncomfortable?
Gaby:Yeah. And this one I do know. It's a science.
Nkechi:Yeah.
Gaby:They say that by the time you ask five questions, you will create a connection. You will make a connection with. Doesn't matter. Like.
Like, skin color aside, gender aside, every perceivable barrier that you can think of, aside, five questions, you will have created a connection. And it could, it could be that. It could be something as simple.
You will like something like, oh, my gosh, my sister lives where you, like, near where you work. Or, you know, oh, my God, I have a dog.
Nkechi:You know what I mean?
Gaby:Or, oh, my God, I grew up in that town. I was only like a year, or, oh, my God, I've gone there for vacation. Like, just five questions. Five questions to create a connection.
Nkechi:Yeah. And for the listeners out there, and Kitschy was not talking about herself, she does not have a dog. No, I dig. I don't know. I'm just saying that.
I know that was cute, but I know you're giving examples.
Gaby:Yeah.
Nkechi:But I agree with you. The other.
The other thing for anyone that might feel it uncomfortable is to go with a person, to find a networking partner, to go with someone, to bridge that gap that you are comfortable with, because then that helps relieve any fear that maybe having another person in the conversation is helpful. And also a way to network is also nonverbal communication as well.
Like, you could be part of a conversation, you could be nodding, you could be smiling. You could be putting your finger up, like, oh, that's right. Sometimes the gestures can also help to. To relieve any stress or anxiety. With networking.
Gaby:Yeah, no, no, I just wanted to make sure that I placed. Yeah, it's five. Five questions to create a connection.
Nkechi:Oh, that's cool. I hadn't heard that before, so thanks for teaching me that.
Gaby:Yeah. So anyone out there who has this fear, let's actually one quick thing before we end this. Introverts extroverts.
It's interesting because I don't think one or the other is better at networking because introverts can go and, like, talk way too much and. And. And spoil the. Spoil the connection, and then introverts could feel too much fear to actually say something.
So either way, arm yourself, regardless of whatever vert you might be, arm yourself with, like, five. Five questions. You know, I love it. Maybe you're gonna. Maybe the next person you meet up with also watch this podcast and has five questions on.
And that makes it easier for both of you to sort of navigate that, but, you know, just get insatiably curious about the next person that you meet.
Try not to think about it being for yourself and about you're creating this connection as an opportunity to potentially help somebody else down the road sometime soon.
Nkechi:Yeah.
Gaby:And then just. It's like, don't label. Don't label that. This is easier if you're one personality traitor or another. Right?
Like, I think that means we are here to connect and make meaningful moments of connection with each other. And so, I don't know. I keep saying moments of connection, or maybe this is the title of this episode, who knows?
But I think we're all better together when we. When we have this insatiable desire to connect and get to know one another.
Nkechi:Yeah, I agree. And, you know, don't focus on the errors or what you might say or anything negative results that can come out of it yet.
Focus on the importance of knowing that net working is your net worth. Is that what you started saying? You opened it up with net worth? Yes.
Yeah. Moments of connection. It's so. It's so important to be that super connector, to have people in your circle that you can refer and lean on.
And I think it's beautiful. I love this topic.
Gaby:And just as a reminder, because you also talked about, like, collecting. It's not, it's not. It's not the art of collecting name people, you know, it's. It's the art of creating moments of connection, you know?
So just remember that.
Nkechi:What a great conversation.
Gaby:I know, on a topic that I really, really love. So be a super connector. But for now, this is where I have to say my name is.
Nkechi:Nkechi and my name is Gabby with one b.
Gaby:And we're out.
Nkechi:Bye bye.
There you have it. I trust you are feeling more empowered in your skin. As the late doctor Maya Angelou said, when you get, you give. When you learn, you teach.
So it would mean so much for us at Eims if you would share this episode and tag us or teach an insight that you took from today's episode on your socials and tag us.
Gaby:Feel free to leave us a review.
Nkechi:Over at iTunes and follow us on social medianpoweretomyskin finally, remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Gaby:See you soon.
