The Secrets of Mission-Driven Networking
At a recent networking event in Chicago, John Davidoff shared some insights and tips on the how’s and why’s of effective, purposeful networking. John spoke from personal experience about the impact transitioning from successful business and networking to meaningful Mission-Driven Networking had on his life.
“My epiphany about living a Mission-Driven life came in 1994 when I was the Account Supervisor for a major beer brand at a global ad agency.” John shared. “I was in the big leagues, on the showcase account. There were TV commercials. Trips to Hollywood. Camp-outs at the Four Seasons. Millions of dollars spent on media, production, promotion and concert tour sponsorships. Sure it was fun, but [after a while] it got old and started to lack purpose for me.”
From that point on John embarked on a new career path that has been significantly more satisfying and meaningful, in which Mission-Driven Networking features a prominent role.
What is Mission-Driven Networking?
It is just what it sounds like – networking that is done in service of a mission or higher purpose. Wikipedia defines mission as “a specific task which a person or group has been charged with or adopts as their main purpose.”
Unlike your standard business networking, Mission-Driven Networking is not just about meeting people, it’s about making yourself available to impact and to be impacted by others. It goes beyond identifying immediate potential business prospects or sales leads; Mission-Driven networking often involves recognizing that each interaction, each new person you meet is often for a reason, although you may not immediately see or understand the reason that person has been put on your path.
Mission-Driven Networking:
- Involves seeing yourself as part of a larger team in pursuit of a higher purpose, rather than a lone wolf
- Is about being genuine and authentic versus being clever, glamorous, polite or trying to impress others
- Emphasizes self-realization rather than self-affirmation and self-promotion
- Honors a sense of community versus suffering in isolation
- Requires that we be genuinely curious about the people we are meeting, to establish meaningful connection
- Requires us to live vulnerably, taking risks to be open and honest with ourselves and others
- Is social or business interactions with deep purpose
Mission-Driven Networking asks us to be our most magnificent and radiant selves, stepping out of our habitual shame and guilt; to be compelling and relevant and to inspire others; to respect ourselves and each other at all times. Our connections with others are enhanced when we are willing to use Mission-Driven Networking to be vulnerable, ask the tough questions, face our own truths and understand what we are willing to say and hear as well as the truths we avoid. Our interactions are deepened when we are able to make meaningful eye contact with a stranger; withhold our snap judgments based on appearance and judge rather on character and heart; presume good will and good faith in one another; and see each person as a peer, teacher and guide on our journey towards the next unknown.
Often in traditional networking the goal is to be liked, get business, collect a quantity of leads, meet a quota. In Mission-Driven Networking the objective is to be respected and respect ourselves, get to know a person’s needs and pain points so you can understand how you might provide a solution, have meaningful connections, and challenge yourself and grow in relationship with ourselves and others.
