ADVICE
How can I learn to net work with confidence?
WORK IN PROGRESS
Our brilliant agony aunt, Mary Fenwick, turns her gaze to the world of work, helping sort out the problems you are struggling with day to day
PHOTOGRAPHS: VICTORIA BIRKINSHAW; GETTY IMAGES
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”
Brené Brown
Q I’ve taken on a new role that I’m really excited about, apart from the expectation that I’ll get out in public more. I really like my colleagues, and I’m looking forward to what we’ll achieve together this year – but the thought of networking makes my skin crawl. What’s the point? Doesn’t everybody hate it as much me, and wouldn’t we all be better off just concentrating on doing our jobs?
If networking is watching the light die in someone’s eyes as you gabble an ‘elevator pitch’, then, yes, everybody hates it. But if it’s learning something that makes work more fun, or hearing the inside story from one of your heroes, then perhaps you could be persuaded?