How do we define Networking?

[John-Paul Hatala]

I was thinking about this very question on my way home from a conference presentation the other day. How I view social networking is something that is mutually beneficial that leads to some sort of opportunity that is helpful. This is a utilitarian viewpoint of networking but perhaps it's much more fluid than that. Maybe it's about allowing opportunities to arise through the activity of meeting others. If I believed the latter, I would have to think that those who are natural networkers would excel, while the rest of us, often uncomfortable with the thought of networking would somehow miss out. I believe that if we think of networking as a means to achieving an end, it will motivate the unnatural individuals to network more. However, keep in mind that if they want to continue to gain advantage from a network they have to be willing to equally give back to it.