The differences between making friends and networking?

[topshopper19]

Hello,

making friends (close friends) requires a mixture of things: vulnerability, sharing of experiences, time investments, being there for each in good and bad times, revealing the real you etc etc.

I have noticed that "networking" is also about BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

The only difference i've found is that "networking" is about gaining something at some point in the future. You invest time in someone so that you can USE THEM at some stage later on.

Do you guys agree? Can someone please explain to me the differences between making friends and "networking"?

Thanks

 

[Mark T Jones]

It will vary a lot from person to person and from business to business

Personally, I never sell to my friends and I have little interest in turning customers into friends. On the other hand I have acquaintances who would struggle to separate the 2

For me, networking is about building trust and confidence amongst fellow business professionals - simple as...

 

[Mitch3473]

Networking is for people who cant make friends.....

 

[obscure]

The only difference i've found is that "networking" is about gaining something at some point in the future. You invest time in someone so that you can USE THEM at some stage later on.

No. Proper business relationships are built up so that both parties can benefit. Sadly too many bad/short sighted business people see business as a one sided venture where they must gain as much as possible at the expense of others. They take a short term gain at the expense of the other party instead of creating a long term relationship that reaps larger rewards for both parties.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I don't mix business with personal stuff I don't want to do deals with friends and family because these are the people that are priceless .

Even this forum is full of such examples where it all goes wrong

Networking is important for getting new contacts and those contacts do not always need to be people you do deals with
I will again use this forum as an example I get good business from here but the usual suspects you see posting all the time here I do very little business with if any, These people however are very important to me as people to network with .
Most are traceable and I have conversed years with on here These usual suspects I value their opinions highly
Put simply don't do business with friends

 

[NickGrogan]

making friends (close friends) requires a mixture of things: vulnerability, sharing of experiences, time investments, being there for each in good and bad times, revealing the real you etc etc.

That seems like a lot of effort.

Presumably this is only if you're trying to make friends with a millennial?

 

[Mark T Jones]

That seems like a lot of effort.

Presumably this is only if you're trying to make friends with a millennial?

Fair points. A few beers usually works for me.

 

[topshopper19]

That seems like a lot of effort.

Presumably this is only if you're trying to make friends with a millennial?

Hahaa lol

I suppose so.

but on a serious note, there are differences between casual friends and close friends; and most people settle for the casual.

 

[topshopper19]

Fair points. A few beers usually works for me.

 

[topshopper19]

It will vary a lot from person to person and from business to business

Personally, I never sell to my friends and I have little interest in turning customers into friends. On the other hand I have acquaintances who would struggle to separate the 2

For me, networking is about building trust and confidence amongst fellow business professionals - simple as...

This might be a little of point, but how would you define networking? How do you personally approach it? a brief overview will do.

Thanks

 

[topshopper19]

I don't mix business with personal stuff I don't want to do deals with friends and family because these are the people that are priceless .

Even this forum is full of such examples where it all goes wrong

Networking is important for getting new contacts and those contacts do not always need to be people you do deals with
I will again use this forum as an example I get good business from here but the usual suspects you see posting all the time here I do very little business with if any, These people however are very important to me as people to network with .
Most are traceable and I have conversed years with on here These usual suspects I value their opinions highly
Put simply don't do business with friends

I understand.

But if making friends is about building relationships......and networking is about building relationships.................I just don't know how you would seperate the two!?

:S

 

[Mark T Jones]

Personally I focus my networking on events that relate to my business - either linked to property or the hotel sector.

I’m really not a fan of genetic business networking.

 

[NickGrogan]

I network with targeted people for specific reasons / projects, I don't network for the sake of networking.

I don't make friends.

 

[Stefanie]

I tend to find being genuinely interested in those I talk to at business events, vs focused on handing out mass cards, helps on the business front. Yet its pretty my approach when I am out socially too.

It doesn't have to be rocket science.

 

[BristolBiz]

When I'm looking for general business advice I'd use a network contact that I thought competent over a friend every time.

I totally agree that friends & business are not an easy mix, "mates rates" but payment upfront works for me.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

Over the years I've made many close friends who I first met as clients. I've also had close friends who I have lost along the way once they became clients.

Working in a creative field one is very likely to have a lot in common with people you work for so becoming friends is natural.

 

[topshopper19]

When I'm looking for general business advice I'd use a network contact that I thought competent over a friend every time.

I totally agree that friends & business are not an easy mix, "mates rates" but payment upfront works for me.

thanks

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Networking is for people who cant make friends.....

This has been my view, too.

However, an expert in Psychometric testing explained one of the (Myers Brigg's IIRC) tests relating to sociability to me several years ago, and it adds context.

At one extreme, people can walk into a room full of strangers, greet everyone warmly, relax and exchange business cards and leave the room contented, but often with little memory of exactly who they met, and no real sense of connection with anybody.
At the other extreme, people would be terrified of walking into a room full of strangers, would be uncomfortable approaching and being approached by strangers to discuss work, and would leave ASAP to a feeling of relief.

The first group are likely to have many and broad-ranging friends and acquaintances but with low level of trust and reliance, whilst the second group are likely to have fewer but stronger and longer-lasting friendships where each party trusts the other absolutely and can be relied upon without question.

The fairly obvious objective for an organisation is to aim to have the right personality types in the right roles to ensure that the organisation derives maximum collective benefit from the workforce.

So to address the original question, perhaps the difference between networking and friendship depends also on the person doing it. For some, growing a network will be paramount, with friendships a lower priority; for others friendships are sacrosanct, whilst networking is an unwanted intrusion to be avoided.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

So to address the original question, perhaps the difference between networking and friendship depends also on the person doing it.

A few years ago, at the behest of 2 friends I joined Facebook. I have done nothing on Facebook since and yet I find that 1,640 people want to be my "friends". I think that the word friend is becoming devalued.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

A few years ago, at the behest of 2 friends I joined Facebook. I have done nothing on Facebook since and yet I find that 1,640 people want to be my "friends". I think that the word friend is becoming devalued.

Don't say that Bob I would do anything for you if there was something in it for me