Issue 14: Redefining Networking

When I started my career in business 30 years ago, ‘networking’ was a concept that never felt comfortable to me.  It always seemed too utilitarian, as if I was entering into a relationship only for the utility it would bring me or my employer.  And it didn’t feel any better being the subject of someone else’s similar motivation.  The tacitly mutual participation between me and my ‘networking partners’ didn’t ameliorate the underlying unease that such a ‘relationship’ was basically an instrument of profit, either for us or our employers.  There was, and is, nothing unethical about it, but nor did it feel wholesome and sincere.

As the world has become increasingly troubled in the decades since, and I’ve felt a growing moral imperative to try to step up to the responsibility I feel to contribute to a better future, networking has taken on a completely different complexion for me.  Now that I’m no longer pursuing (only) a self or corporate aggrandising goal, I feel a common purpose and deep connection with those with whom I’m networking.  I feel that I’m becoming part of a life enhancing ‘web’ of networks that has expanded from the first on the list to the last: 

  1. A women’s therapy group (11 participants)
  2. An existential enquiry group (4)
  3. A Buddhist sangha (8)
  4. A ‘Diamond Approach’ ongoing personal enquiry course (50)
  5. An ‘Insight Dialogue’ enquiry group (30)
  6. An anti-racist project group to promote more diversity in the mindfulness world (4)
  7. An anti-racist project group with my school class addressing historical and current participation in systems that support racism (40)
  8. A social purpose group of alumni from my class at business school (8)
  9. A ‘Purpose Collective’ of coaches and facilitators (50)
  10. The Climate Coaching Alliance, coaches focusing their work on ameliorating the climate crisis (100s)
  11. A Mindful movement group (6)

The first five of these groups I’ve been a member of for between one and 20 years, but the last five I’ve been invited to join or set up myself since the start of the pandemic.  At first, I thought I’d developed some sort of ‘groupie addiction’, but I’ve increasingly started to recognise that I’m part of a growing phenomenon of people networking to collaborate and unite around improving our struggling world.  Some of ‘my’ groups serve primarily to nurture the healing and growth of our members and some have the aspiration of contributing to healing the world… but they are all mutually supportive and beneficial.  And I increasingly find myself (and others) making introductions and links between them (including via this blog).  I believe this is one significant way forward in uniting our one tribe of humans on this planet, one person and network at a time.  And I am grateful and inspired to be an instrument of this endeavour.