Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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April 29, 2008

Hunters, Gatherers, and Stars of Networking

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:41 am

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Networking on the Ground

relationships button

I’ve been networking on the ground in Chicago. in the last two weeks, I went to a class, a seminar, a presentation, and a huge networking event. My goal was find a few folks who might help me figure out how to talk about an idea that’s shaping up and to learn how to connect with the people who might be interested in exploring it.

I sure found some incredible people, who told me about their work and helped me focus my thinking. I listened them as long as I might and thanked them for their counsel. I found some great folks that I could easily connect to information they needed or a friend who could help them. Sadly, I also found people who seemed hyper-focused on reciting on a script. Conversation with them was almost impossible.

At the large event, I met Mike, who works in relationship management. We talked about this scripted phenomena. He called the hyper-focused people, “hunters.” He said they came to find someone — anyone — to give them work or to work for them. He said he knew because he used to be one of them.

The Hunters, Gatherers, and Stars of Networking

That conversation with Mike left me thinking about the roles we use when we network in a room of strangers. I see distinct types.

As I write this I realize that we play the same roles when we network online. Each of these folks is on our social networking sites.

What do you think? Are there others that I’ve left out? Do you find that online networking is easier than networking on the ground?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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18 Comments to “Hunters, Gatherers, and Stars of Networking”

  1. April 29th, 2008 at 8:57 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    That’s a very insightful overview. I have also seen these less frequent types: 1)Some people walk through a room with a relaxed flow, knowing that they will connect with the right people at the right time. 2)Newbies sizing up the situation around them and diving in awkwardly at first, attempting to mimic those around them.

  2. April 29th, 2008 at 9:15 am
    Jay Francis Hunter said

    The beggar - Sloshing from person to person asking for help, without giving anything in return. Less audacious than the hunter and not smart enough to be a gatherer.

    Online networking is indeed easier. It’s less personal and your mug isn’t involved.

  3. April 29th, 2008 at 9:53 am
    Ivana Taylor said

    I’ve never seen or heard it described this way - but I think it’s really powerful to categorize these characteristics because it helped me look into or look back on my networking behaviors and see where I could have come off as any one of them depending on the day. What I’m taking away from this post is the ability better set goals for events and then actively manage my behavior toward “star” driven rather than - unconsciously participating.

  4. April 29th, 2008 at 10:04 am
    Marti said

    Never been to a class, presentation, conference seminar or event of any kind, but from what I’ve read of them, your description sounds very accurate. I hope someday I get to attend one (with you!) and see what kind of participant I will be. Definitely won’t be a non-participant - LOL

    Sure have missed you, been so darned busy. Best wishes for a wonderful day!

  5. April 29th, 2008 at 11:11 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    I do think it’s the same with online networks. Some hunt for links and hits, some collect blogrolls and affiliate links (or whole posts from others!) and others - the ones I prefer - share ideas, books, thoughts unconditional and point their readers - which they know well - tp other interesting blogs, books, software and people.

    No difference there then. I’ve even seen beggars ;-)

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  6. April 29th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
    Just Another Homo sapiens Living On This Pale Blue Dot » Networking and getting a blog discovered said

    [...] what most of this comes down to though, is networking. Liz Strauss has a new post: Hunters, Gatherers, and Stars of Networking. And I’m not real good at networking. She divides people into three [...]

  7. April 29th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
    Trisha said

    Unfortunately, I tend to be the nonparticipant - I’m generally too shy to say anything to anyone.

  8. April 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
    amypalko said

    I absolutely love networking, Liz! It’s the absolute highlight of all the conferences I attend. It’s easy to get fixated on the delivery of your presentation, but ultimately that is such a small component of the conference experience. I’ve made some wonderful connections at the conferences I’ve attended. As a result I’ve been offered work, I’ve found work for others, but more importantly I’ve made some great friends. My online networking largely mimics my on-the-ground experience. Life’s just more fun when you engage in conversation, is it not?

  9. April 29th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
    Cath Lawson said

    Hi Liz - Networking on the ground is very similar to on the Internet.

    Like you, I have met the Hunter’s offline - instead of interacting with people they meet, they give you some pre-prepared sales pitch and it can be so off-putting.

    The same is true in social networking. Some people will send you every post they’ve written and ask you to stumble or digg it. And in some ways - that is even harder. Because you don’t want to tell them that you don’t want to lose credibility by voting their post - and nobody can write excellent stuff day in, day out.

    In this respect, I find networking online more difficult than working offline.

    Luckily, these people are the minority.

  10. April 29th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi SpaceAgeSage,
    I agree. Some folks seem to fit in anywhere. They do glide, don’t they?

  11. April 29th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Jay!
    Oh my, we leave out what we don’t like . . . I don’t like the beggar a lot. How could I leave that out? Yeah, every now and then, someone takes that role to an art form.

  12. April 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Ivana!
    That’s my quest this year — to do thing on purpose, not just following the drill, but paying attention to my goals.

  13. April 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    When you’re ready Marti, they’ll be ready for you. I’ll bet you’ll take them by storm.

  14. April 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    hi Trisha!
    I know how overwhelming it can all be. I often make a goal to talk to three people and then decide whether I’m up to talking to three more.

    Someone said never go up to 2 people talking always look for a small group. It’s easier to interrupt.

    Meanwhile, I often ask the person I’m talking to whether there’s someone in the room I should meet before I leave. Sometimes they introduce me to the next person.

  15. April 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amy,
    The key is learning how to start the conversation so that folks feel comfortable. Questions work best for me. I bet you use questions a lot too.

  16. April 29th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Cath,
    I get the hunters who want me to introduce them to people. I don’t necessarily know them or the people they want to meet nearly well enough to do so. I have to say “um, I don’t know that person well enough.”

    That’s not fun either. :)

  17. April 30th, 2008 at 5:38 am
    Stephen Hopson said

    Liz:

    I once wrote an article entitled “Networking is a Dirty Word.” It wasn’t meant to be an attention grabber but more geared towards how networking has been reduced to a rubble by the “hunters” and “gatherers.”

    Having said that, I prefer relationship building as opposed to networking because that’s a much more attractive term, in my view, and more accurate when used properly. Too many people out there seem to want to shove a business card in your hand and move on to the next person. I prefer to get to know people and use my listening skills (which is ironic actually, considering the fact that I’ve been deaf since birth but am an excellent lip-reader).

    Great article Liz!!! I will be super conscious of this when I come to SOBCon08 this weekend. :)

  18. May 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
    FreshNetworks Blog » Blog Archive » Research 2.0 - from a vertical to a horizontal world said

    [...] Hunters, Gatherers, and Stars of Networking [...]

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