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Photo courtesy beehiiv
A year ago, I didn’t even know events like this existed.
Now, I get invited to them regularly, through TikTok as well.
The evening started with a panel of founders.
Then, two creators who had left prominent careers to build incredibly successful online platforms.
The journalist in me loves attending these events to hear how quickly professions are changing. But the communications coach in me is always more interested in what happens after the programming ends.
That’s when the networking begins, and I can study common communication issues in real time.
At this event, I reflected on how there are at least three different types of networkers:
those who come to observe
those who come to perform
and those who come ready to participate
In this newsletter, my goal is to make you see that networkers who participate are not only the most likable, they are the ones who leave with the strongest connections.
We will cover:
Authenticity
Participators understand something performers and observers often miss: we are all incredibly good at sensing inauthenticity.
We can usually tell when someone is trying too hard to become the version of themselves they think we want.
That tension creates distance.
Authenticity does the opposite.
It relaxes people and builds trust. It makes conversations feel easier.
When I coach clients, I encourage them over and over to stop trying to deliver the perfectly polished version of themselves, and instead let people see who they really are.
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