There. I’ve said it. I don’t like networking. The term emerged a few decades ago as a business tool for people to grow their own business or organization by exchanging ideas, business cards, and other pertinent information. If you look on the internet, here’s what comes up for a definition.

    …the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.

There are network meetings whose sole purpose is for businesspeople to get together to…yes…network. More casually, folks at social gatherings come prepared with business cards and make it their purpose to get with almost everyone there and share what they do and “how happy they would be to work together.”

A few years ago, the Harvard Business Review wrote on networking. While they were promoting it as a legitimate way to grow a person’s business, they had to admit many people are like me…they don’t like it.

    “I hate networking.” We hear this all the time from executives, other professionals, and MBA students. They tell us that networking makes them feel uncomfortable and phony—even dirty. 

That’s why it was refreshing to see Jon Gordon, noted author and speaker on the topics of leadership, culture, sales, and teamwork, say, “Don’t be a networker.” He went on to list things you should be doing to build up those around you.

    1. Add value to people’s lives.

    2. Lead with love, not an agenda.

    3. Find ways to serve.

    4. Show you care.

    5. Encourage others.

    6. Look to give instead of receive.

    7. Connect people.

You can almost hear the words of Jesus in these points. Think of others ahead of yourself. Love your neighbor. And, as the Apostle Paul told the believers in Thessalonica,

    “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager and Lead Like Jesus, wrote the forward to one of Jon Gordon’s books, The Carpenter. In it, Blanchard underscores the philosophy that Gordon expressed in his books, speeches, and motivational coaching.

    “… shift your focus from ‘winning’—whatever that means to you—to using your business to love, serve, and build up others. If you do this, you will succeed, and your business will grow in ways you never imagined.”

As I look at the list above, I am encouraged that the Lord has led us to build MEDIAlliance in a way that embraces those seven points. And God has blessed beyond expectations and measure.

Let me encourage you for the next seven weeks to take one of these items from Jon Gordon’s list, look up scripture that applies to it, and then make that your leadership focus for the week. At the end of that time you will very likely see a difference in your ministry or organization as well as in you as a leader.