Why We Should Explicitly Teach Networking to Students

“What’s that “N” word we were talking about last week?” I asked my students today.

“Networking!” shouted a flock simultaneously.

“Right!” I exclaimed, thrilled at how well the ongoing training was progressing. “And what does ‘Networking’ mean?”

“Meeting other people to connect ideas and opportunities,” one 8th grader offered. “Seeing how you can help someone with their project and goals,” added another, “and how they can help you on yours.” I nearly fainted in happiness. My Campaign for the Teaching of Networking is starting to bear fruit!

You see, the more I look at the skills that have helped my life and the lives of successful people I know, the more I see the paramount importance of Networking. Lately, I see that if we don’t teach our students how to Network, all the writing instruction we do, all the To Kill a Mockingbird analysis, and all the their/there/they’re practice we beat into their heads won’t be used to its full potential!

Just HOW important is the skill of connecting with others for mutual gain?

Or, put another way, just HOW correct is the quote from the movie A.T.L. (starring esteemed rapper, T.I.): “Sometimes it’s not WHAT you know, but WHO you know”?

Check out these facts:

1. Jobs: Can we agree that the majority of job offers are from connections (“who you know”), not formal applications? Seriously: ask around among successful adults. And readers, I invite you to share your own experiences in the Comments section: How much has Networking built your resume?

Me, I have held about twelve formal jobs in my 29 years, and seven of those (including the most important and high-paying ones) were because I had gotten to know someone who knew someone who knew someone who was hiring, who trusted me for the job because of our connection. Now, I did get the other 5 jobs through a formal application process, so students mustn’t give up on that route forever… but let’s really acknowledge the clout of connections for careers!

2. Opportunities: Many successful people started their career path because of an opportunity they heard from a casual conversation with another person they didn’t really know.

For example, my friend Marleny, who is Boston Public Schools graduate and now a doctor (woo hoo!), earned over a quarter-million dollars in scholarships for elite schools because she heard someone mention a scholarship she had never heard of and asked follow-up questions. She found the scholarship, applied… and won! Networking is about listening well, valuing the ideas of others, and following up!

3. Free stuff: Our classroom now has 2 new computers and a spiffy new printer, generously donated from a business philanthropist who knows someone who knows someone who I know! Our class helped his company with editing and testing a new website, and his company compensated our technology-starved classroom richly. Networking!

4. The growth of your dreams and projects. Exactly a year ago, I spent 3 wonderful months volunteer teaching at Youth Creating Change of Ghana thanks to online networking I did through the website Couchsurfing.org. Moreover, the reason that YCC Ghana, a small, locally-run nonprofit group, was able to reach the eyes of an American like me is because YCC’s Director is a brilliant online networker, himself.

There are millions of small Nonprofits around the world that never get a single international volunteer, but because of YCC’s proficiency in Networking, YCC now has a ton of amazing, growing opportunities and international ties. Given that, what could Networking do for YOUR dreams and projects?

5. Saving money during travel. I can’t tell you how much money I saved during my 9 months traveling around the world thanks to Networking. Time after time, I got free housing due to connections (in person and on Facebook and Twitter) with friends of friends of friends of friends. In the case of my first night in Bangkok, Thailand, I got free 5-star lodging with my mother’s co-worker’s former co-worker’s wife’s co-worker! This tongue twisting “braid of human kindness” works all around the world.

6. Mentorship. You may or may not know how I stalked and tracked down the #1 Travel Blogger while he was visiting Spain. Long story short, we’re now good friends and I’ve learned SO much about blogging, business, and travel from connecting with him! There’s a fine line between Networking and Stalking, but as long as you can stay out of jail, linking up with the star players of your dream field is euphoric and extremely helpful in achieving your career goals.

7. Joy! Last Thursday night, returning home from the Venture Cafe in Kendall Square, Cambridge, I was so truly, deeply excited and HAPPY, that the friend I called to chat with thought I was on some heavy stimulant drugs. But no drugs were involved, honest! The reason for my bliss was that I had just attended an unbelievable 150-person EdTech (Education Technology) entrepreneur networking meet-up.

It wasn’t just the free food, gorgeous high-tech surroundings, or awesome people that made that night such a revelation, no. What was so exhilarating was the almost palpable feeling of BUILDING connections. What a high to realize that you can contribute to someone else’s project or business, and they can contribute to yours… and the world will be more fabulous as a result!

Networking is a true joy of life, and it is a skill that can and should be discussed and taught in our classrooms. Even the shyest student can practice and learn Networking, and once a student masters it, success and results will come!

Readers: Thoughts? Questions? Stories? Speaking of folks I networked with last Thursday, big thanks to photographer Sidi Gomes (www.SidiGomes.com) for today’s fancy photos.