3 Keys to Non-Traditional Networking for BIPOC Entrepreneurs & Executives
The first of a 3-part series, you will learn and practice a de-colonized way of introducing yourself and your business. A companion article to the Zoom workshop happening on January 27 @ 11am PST
Are you tired of the same old, same old networking events where:
❌ The thought of attending a 'networking' event makes you nervous and unsure
❌ Questions like “What do you do?” or “What business are you in?” dominate the conversation
❌ Participants lead with a canned ‘elevator pitch’
❌ The process of introducing yourself is limited to 30 seconds to 1-2 minutes
❌ You check the Zoom chat and there is a ‘waterfall’ of written elevator pitches, random offers and short ads that are out of context
❌ When you look at the Zoom room, you see a bunch of ‘talking heads’ where words and verbal expression dominate
❌ You leave wondering whether you were seen and heard at all
In this Non-Traditional Networking space:
✔️ We want to know who you are including all your names, where you have lived and why you’ve joined the gathering
✔️ We acknowledge that you’ve joined not just as yourself but as part of your family, community and ancestors, as well as your business or workplace community
✔️ You don’t need a prepared ‘elevator pitch’ nor will we ask you to come up with one
✔️ Diverse greetings and expressions other than English are welcomed and encouraged; we centre lived experiences from other parts of the world besides North America or Western Europe
✔️ You will be asked to share your business or leadership story in other ways besides words
✔️ We engage with our whole self ~ mind, body and spirit, with plenty of time to share
✔️ We focus on building relationships based on authentic connections, shared values and cross-cultural intelligence
Gather and get to know each other in a safe(r), supportive and de-colonized space where you can bring your whole self to the table, where your identity and your story matters.
A non-traditional space where BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) entrepreneurs and executives are serious about business, and care just as much about the people and relationships behind them.
It is FREE or by donation to join and participate. We ask that you register in advance so that you can receive the Zoom link and we can prepare to welcome you.
Donations are welcomed to support the Host and her team in creating accessible events and workshops for the community.
Suggested donation $10 per session.
PRE-REGISTER HERE:
http://bipocnetworking.eventbrite.ca
Key # 1 to Non-Traditional Networking :
Lead With Who You Are, Not What You Do
In 2021, I started doing ‘networking’ a little differently. It had been almost 2 years since I participated in some form of a networking event, so it was great to have a break. Even more awesome was that the world had shifted a lot, not only due to #Covid19pandemic but also consciousness-raising around #JEDDI (justice, equity, diversity, decolonization, inclusion) issues via #BlackLivesMatter, #StopAsianHate and Indigenous #TruthandReconciliation movements.
During this time, I was feeling the call to serve more #BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) #entrepreneurs + #executives through my #coaching and #workshops, but it took me months to “come out” with it as a #niche and change my title. Not that it was anything new working with #BIPOC folks, but it seemed sorely needed now more than ever. Especially since these were my professional roots: working in diversity training, cross-cultural community development and social justice space about a decade ago, mostly in the #NGO world.
I left that world because I was tired. Tired of being the sole voice, the minority face, the tokenized ‘other’. But now it seems that these issues are finally kitchen table conversations. There was something (re)defining about (re)claiming this space and integrating #socialjustice to my current world of #entrepreneurship and #coaching and #wellness.
Back to networking: after 2 years shedding old patterns and conditioning as to how to present oneself at networking events, I decided I was going to experiment with something new. I started introducing myself first as a person instead of what I did or what my business or body of work was about. It’s a simple concept, but challenging to practice. How many of us have been conditioned to practice and perfect an ‘elevator pitch’? Not only that, we must present with our best, most confident ‘power pose’ projecting about how great we are. There is nothing wrong about self-promotion. But when it’s mechanical or performative, I check out. I must admit, I stood out among the crowd when I didn’t lead with my own 30-second or 1-minute elevator pitch. Either that, or I shared something that was non-formulaic that didn’t hit “all the points”. It wasn’t smooth. It didn’t feel great. But it felt authentic and true to how I wanted to conduct myself moving forward.
For a time, I felt silly and awkward. I could feel myself sinking to the bottom of the popularity / visibility rung because I wasn’t “putting myself out there” in the right way, it seemed. But I promised myself that I would keep doing this until I found the most aligned way for me, even if I have to repeat some sound bytes of my brand messaging, that’s okay too, as long as it is expressed in context. No memorizing and no practising. Just knowing my stuff inside and out and being authentic in the moment.
Introducing myself as a person first instead of “what I do” was a small step in doing networking differently. I encourage you to practise this, too – whether you identify as BIPOC or not. On January 27th, I’m going to teach a simple method to ensure that your identity and story is integrated into your “what you do” statement or elevator pitch, if you already have one. But don’t worry, we won’t even ask you for your elevator pitch unless you really want to. :)
Key # 2 to Non-Traditional Networking :
Listen On A Whole New Level
Back in the day, almost two decades ago when I started my first business at 16 years old, then also when I was taking career training in university, I learned about this thing called “networking”.
I learned how to craft an elevator pitch and how to present myself powerfully with the best, most confident ‘power pose’ projecting how great I was. It was a good learning on being prepared, practising my lines, and promoting myself confidently.
Since then, I’ve attended hundreds of business events (and organized many of them myself). Of course, my ‘pitch’ has changed and evolved over time depending on what was current in my career. But I noticed what hasn’t changed is the focus on self-promotion.
Either that, or in some more ‘progressive’ spaces, there was more emphasis placed on “giving first”, “giving value”, or “givers gain” culture. And so the focus shifted to being the one to help the most people and being of service with their valuable offering.
It wasn’t until 2021 did I realize that we’ve been taught all wrong!
Not that there is anything wrong with self-promotion or being of service. Self-promotion and being of service while giving value are essential to the ecosystem of a successful business. But neither should be the focus of networking. Both are common practices we have been conditioned to perform. Both are individualistic and transactional in nature, because the focus is still on proving oneself.
The main focus of networking should be listening on a whole new level—that we make listening more important than self-promotion or being of service. You can do these things later, but when you’re meeting people for the first time or even the first few times, the focus must be on listening: listening with your whole body and cells, not just with your ears and mind. Not just listening to the other person, but to yourself, so that you can respond with the most current and authentic expression of yourself, your story and your business objectives.
Listening is the main ingredient of being in right relationship. It is a long-term pursuit of relationship building. If we can make that the focus of networking about listening and being in right relationship instead of short-term self-promotion or acts of service in hopes of gaining something in return—then we can give more permission for others to show up as their whole selves.
This Thursday, we are going to de-program the propensity to self-promote or provide value and practice listening to ourselves and each other in new and decolonized ways.
Please stay tuned for Key # 3 to be posted next month.
© 2021 Rosalyn C. RainDancer
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