Do you love it or hate it?

Networking. The word brings me out in a cold sweat. The idea of sidling up to people I don’t know, and who already look happy in the conversation they are having, makes me feel awkward and rude.  I even once went to a workshop which taught people how to sidle up in the most polite way possible. I still felt stupid!

People often don’t realise but I’m not a natural extrovert and I’m not overflowing with confidence. That’s why networking made me so uncomfortable.

So I ditched the word.

I don’t do networking anymore. I chat to people. I drop them an email and arrange to meet for a coffee. I have a natter to someone who I happen to bump into at an event. I engage with people on social media. I work with Monty and the team to create our OnFARM podcast and we talk to fascinating people (either in person or via Zoom) when we record our content.  I work hard to build relationships. But I don’t ‘network’.

Now that I have simply removed the word from my vocabulary I feel so much better. There is far less pressure and the act of work socialising sounds fun again. It’s amazing how semantics really can change things.

Speaking of fun, I can’t wait to go to what is, in my old vocab, the largest agri networking event there is – The Royal Highland Show.

But this year, having missed out on the last two years, and with my new no pressure attitude to catching up with old friends, as well as meeting new ones, I’m certain I’ll feel more relaxed, Pimms in hand or not.

Will we see you there?  I’ll be at the show on the Thursday, Friday and, most likely, also the Saturday, so if you’re going to be there and fancy meeting for a coffee/ice-cream/beef roll and a catch up, drop me a line!

Let’s hope the sun shines.