360. Expert Interview: Why Should People Be Expanding Their Abilities to Network Through NetWeaving?
Bob Littell
Bob Littell created the NetWeaving concept over 16 years ago as a result of not only building his own career and company through practicing the skill sets and action steps of NetWeaving, but by showcasing many others, in a variety of fields and industries, who have been doing NetWeaving, just without a word for it.
Why Should People Be Expanding Their Abilities to Network Through NetWeaving?
“Over the next five, 10, 15 or 20 years, many millions of jobs are going to be eliminated. This will happen through robotics, artificial intelligence, software bots or a combination of advances in technology. What’s so significant about that trend is that it will make it even more critical for people to spend time working on soft skills, developing their interpersonal relationships and helping others do likewise.”
Why Is This Important?
Anyone who has spent time in traditional networking events has quickly seen the limitations of this method. “Walking into a networking event in a large roomful of strangers is hard enough for an extravert, but can be excruciating for individuals in high-tech jobs. Having a series of superficial conversations with individuals, until you see them nodding and looking for their next Landing, is discouraging and unproductive. NetWeaving is a method, proven over 17 years of practice, that takes the randomness and shallowness out of networking. It offers clear steps for making true connections through empathy, focused listening and insight. NetWeavers learn how to bring value to their interactions by building trusted networks of people who will reciprocate their efforts. Catherine Ryan Hyde, the author of “Pay It Forward,” has described NetWeaving as its equivalent in the business and professional world.
What Are the Key Lessons Learned Here?
“Instead of simply looking for ‘people who can help me,’ NetWeaving helps networkers also focus on the resources and connections they can bring to the people they meet. It expands the field of vision beyond the purely personal to include further understanding of other people’s needs, and offers practical tools to help a NetWeaver utilize that understanding in a mutually beneficial way. It results in creating trusted relationships among people who will offer each other practical support and advancement. As technology increases in importance, people need to learn ways of demonstrating the irreplaceable role of human beings in making things work together.”
