{"id":4921,"date":"2011-11-15T16:30:00","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellyourstoryinc.com\/wpdev\/?p=52"},"modified":"2016-07-21T20:12:55","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T20:12:55","slug":"six-types-of-networkers-everyones-met","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pairdesignchicago.com\/tellyourstory\/six-types-of-networkers-everyones-met\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Types of Networkers Everyone’s Met"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SocialNote: <\/b>We originally developed a list of “types of networkers” in 2009 and were inspired to refresh and republish. It served as a great conversation starter at a recent Business Marketing Association Chicago<\/a> event, and we think it can help people improve who they are as a networker.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s about to be that time of year again when we in the business world reexamine our (now digital) Rolodexes and start thinking about the connections we\u2019ve made over the past year.\u00a0For some of us that means embarking on an office scavenger hunt to gather up the dozens of business cards we\u2019ve collected over the last 12 months. For others it means finally getting around to connecting with our coworkers on LinkedIn.<\/p>\n

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We are also going into the holiday portion of the networking season where good cheer and business cards are exchanged liberally. Networking, my friends, both online and face-to-face, is as important as ever.<\/p>\n

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It’s an undeniable fact that if there is one key to success in the professional environment of the 21st century, it\u2019s networking. So what kind of networker are you? At Tell Your Story we\u2019ve come up with a short list of the different types of networkers we\u2019ve encountered over the years.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cFeel Good\u201d Networker \u2013<\/b>
\nYou\u2019re fulfilled both professionally and personally by networking.\u00a0You love the art of networking and everything about it, but you\u2019d rather describe yourself as a people person than a networker. There\u2019s no place you won\u2019t start a conversation with someone new. In fact, you met your most recent client during a layover in Albuquerque. Your friends no longer bother introducing you at parties \u2013 they assume everyone already knows you \u2013 and your iPhone takes hours to backup the number of contacts in your address book. You love helping others through networking and making connections that make sense. You’re good at it, and it has helped you and others be more successful.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cI Have to Network\u201d Networker \u2013<\/b>
\nYou\u2019re on the hunt for something, whether it be a new job, new business or a new hire, and you\u2019ve decided to turn to networking. You dust off that stack of business cards you bought a few months back and realize you should have opened the package a lot sooner \u2013 hind-sight is always 20\/20. You spend the next few days, weeks, or months networking like crazy until that new job is secured, then you shove those business cards back into black hole that is your desk drawer and await the next time you need them.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cI Hate Networking\u201d Networker \u2013<\/b>
\nYou know who you are. Whenever you see a networking article on your Google Reader feed you sigh deeply. You get it, networking is important, but you\u2019re holding out for the study that proves it\u2019s just a fad. Besides, you can\u2019t figure out where these people find the time to go to after work events and be active in professional organizations without sacrificing a personal life. You show up only to the events you\u2019re obligated to attend and quickly make an exit when the opportunity presents itself. At the end of the day you pack up and head home and that\u2019s the way you like it.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cUncomfortable\u201d Networker <\/b>
\nYou\u2019ve read books, attended seminars and even resorted to infomercial kits about networking. However, there\u2019s a big gap between theory and practice and no matter how much time and money you invest, you just can\u2019t seem to get comfortable doing it. Instead of making that first step you wait for someone to approach you. Many times you\u2019ve found solace in clinging to the \u201cI Hate Networking\u201d Networker while nervously sipping your club soda and checking your watch \u2013 and at the end of the night you realize you forgot to ask for his\/her card.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cObnoxious\u201d Networker \u2013<\/b>
\nYou go into every interaction with an agenda to make contacts and you\u2019re always armed with business cards. Sometimes you get an inkling that the person you approached doesn\u2019t want to hear your elevator speech, but you keep going. Your friends and coworkers roll their eyes at your tactics, but you know they work \u2013 you have successfully established an extensive database of contacts. This holiday season you\u2019re slipping a networking book into the office grab bag and you don\u2019t care who thinks that\u2019s obnoxious.<\/p>\n

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The \u201cYou Should Go Network\u201d Networker \u2013<\/b>
\nYou\u2019re a distant cousin of the \u201cFeel Good\u201d and \u201cObnoxious\u201d Networkers. You love networking and have seen its benefits influence your own life. Now you want everyone you know to follow your lead. You instantly shoot emails to your friends and coworkers about networking opportunities and in the past you\u2019ve had to fight off the urge to create a LinkedIn account for your spouse. Some people may call you pushy, but you know that you\u2019re just giving good advice \u2013 even if it\u2019s unwanted. “I Hate Networking” knows you’re right, and they probably hate you for it.<\/p>\n

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Here are some additional types of networkers we’ve heard from you in the past:<\/p>\n

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