by: Anna Michalski (Chapter President; 2019/2020)

I had planned to keep this month’s letter short and sweet so we could all get back outside to enjoy the beautiful weather, but… I read something the other day, in the Harvard Business Review, about identifying and shifting our mindset in regards to networking. It was interesting that the article highlighted how some people have a natural passion for networking with others in their industry (namely the extroverts who love and thrive on social interaction), but that many people find less of a desire to participate, sometimes viewing the exercise as inauthentic. The last word caused me a little discomfort. Authenticity is something I greatly appreciate in other people – Do people percieve me as inauthentic?! I’m not the small talk kind of person. I have a natural love for people and I genuinely enjoy connecting and learning from others. I also have a servant’s heart – it ‘s built into me, so I take no credit, but it means if there is a need somewhere, specifically to support and encourage others, I’m naturaly going to want to help. I am not, however, an extrovert.

Pouring into others takes a lot of energy out of me and I’ve learned over time that I need just as much time away from people to have an opportunity to recharge; it makes me better equipped and allows me the capacity to go back out the next day and do it all over again. I didn’t have that understanding about myself prior to working in right of way and being a part of our local chapter.

Years ago, I would attend networking events because it was expected of me and it was a good way to meet others in the field I was working in at the time. I had a desire and felt a responsibility to be a good representative of my employer, but when I would go to things like Chamber of Commerce meetings or hear someone suggest I attend a Toastmaster’s meeting, my anxiety level would increase significantly and I would want to retreat. I would still go, out of a sense of duty, but I wasn’t comfortable participating in discussion, and I felt out of place. It was confusing to me how I could have such a strong willingness inside to be of help and connect with others, and yet, I didn’t enjoy it at all. I also didn’t realize the value it could bring to my personal growth as well as the growth of my career. I wasn’t able to see how I was working against myself trying to find a level of comfort in these exercises of networking.

Fast forward many years and reflecting on how much I now look forward to and enjoy networking in the right of way world, I’ve often considered what changes have taken place in order to allow me to have such a different perspective. Something else I read in the HBR article helped to expand my understanding. My mindset over time has shifted from a place of “prevention” to one of “promotion”. Allow me to explain:

Those who operate and see networking through the eyes of prevention see it as something they are obligated to take part in for professional reasons. Prevention-focused people see networking as a necessary evil and feel inauthentic when engaging in it. If you are introverted like me, you may experience varying levels of anxiety or have difficulty seeing the value in stepping outside your comfort zone, or even the value your presence and participation may bring to others.

On the other hand, promotion-minded people think primarily about growth, advancement, and accomplishments that networking can bring them and others. They participate because they want to. They approach it with excitement, curiosity and an open mind. They recognize their peer groups as their greatest resource – one they can benefit from and one they find fullfillment and purpose pouring back into.

For me, networking has become something I really enjoy because I’m learning from those around me. Others possess knowledge, experience and perspective that I don’t. Learning from them expands my understanding and gives me insight into people who operate differently than I do. We complement one another. I don’t think in terms of what I might get from the time I put in, but rather, I operate from a place of what I can learn from others and am mindful to recognize ways I can serve others. This awareness naturally brings about authentic connections which create really cool opportunities for collaboration, friendship and even career advacenment opportunities. I am better at my job because I work alongside and engage with some pretty amazing people, many of whom I’ve come to know only because I was encouraged to show up and had a willingness to participate.

Serving others doesn’t mean you have to take on a particular role. If you work in right of way, you have something to offer the rest of us. You have experience and perspective that is unique to you. We all do. When we make an intentional choice to gather together in an effort to exchange ideas, share knowledge and support one another, we elevate others around us and in turn, ourselves. The value that translates into one another’s growth professionally, and many times personally, is immeasurable.

As cliche as it sounds, there is no better time than now to come to a board meeting or luncheon and meet your fellow chapter members. Over the next few months, we’ll be reviewing our committee assignments and position descriptions, as well as taking a closer look at our operating manual to be sure that all things are in line with our core mission, and that they meet the needs of the members and the industry we serve. If we don’t see or hear from you, we could be missing out on some really great ideas! And who knows, you could be missing out on some amazing connections! Because of these things, I want to encourage each of you to take the time to connect with us, whether it be by email, phone or in person so that we can all share our ideas and grow together.