Why the Most Important Networking Attribute is Self-Awareness

1. Figure Out What Makes You Tick

Said differently, self-awareness is everything. I personally view it as a superpower.

It helps you understand your:

• Strengths and weaknesses

• Thoughts and motivations

• Things to avoid and things to lean into

But most importantly, it allows you to understand how people perceive you.

I can't tell you what makes you tick, but I can give you questions that help you figure out what does.

Take a personal inventory by answering these questions honestly. If you are serious about it, I'd suggest writing them down (don't worry, this is for your eyes only).

Now, you can determine where you need adjustments and what can work to your advantage.

2. Determine What Type of Connector You Are

There isn't one type of connector who can do it all. In Superconnector, they break down types of connectors into three categories:

• Thinkers: Curious to the max. They have a hundred ideas a minute; they're just not always the best at executing them.

• Enablers: Can assemble people together and share ideas with them. Enablers love to introduce people to one another.

• Connection Executors: The accomplishers. They take other people's ideas and make them happen.

Enablers may coordinate people, but they aren't bringing new ideas to the table and finding ways to execute on them.

Thinkers will come up with hundreds of ideas but without Connection Executors, those ideas remain just that—ideas.

If you don’t understand your type, how can you find others to complement your weaknesses?

Figure out which type you are, surround yourself with connectors that fit the other molds, and you can play off your respective strengths and weaknesses to create meaningful outcomes!

3. Pick Your Pond

"The most self-aware and successful superconnectors root themselves in the places where they feel happiest and most stable. This is fundamental to having a satisfying life, but also a necessity if you want to build relationships with meaning and depth."

Part of being aware of what makes you tick is understanding the places you are most comfortable inhabiting. This goes for both where you live (big city, small city, suburbs, etc.), and the types of networking events you attend. If you hate a loud bar, don't attend a networking event there. Instead attend a smaller curated dinner or activity-based networking event.

4. Let Curiosity Guide You

"Curiosity is the engine that informs, leads, and inspires conversations. Superconnectors are very curious about individuals. They care about learning, expanding their horizons, and getting as much information as they can from others in order to be helpful later on."

The thing about curiosity is that you can't fake it. People will see through you from miles away. Instead, think about the topics or conversations that make your ears perk up. Once you identify some of those topics, think of the questions you can ask to help you carry a conversation in the right direction. A good starting point could be the following:

• What do you like the most about your job?

• What's one exciting thing you're working on right now?

• What challenges about your work are keeping you up at night?

• What types of opportunities are you looking for beyond what you're currently doing?

  (Credit: Superconnector)

Now when you go to events, you can focus on finding the few meaningful conversations that tap your curiosity rather than 50 bland conversations you have no interest in.

It doesn't take too much to build relationships, here's what I'm committing to this week:

• 🎂 Heading to Napa to celebrate my fiancée’s birthday

• 💒 Celebrating two college friends getting married at their wedding

• 👋 Seeing college friends on a trip to San Francisco