Page 50 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

TROPIC • OPINION

Megan
Thomas
Owner
PhyxMe Physiotherapy

The philosophy of networking

With our world ever-changing and transitioning to one of
electronic communication, I question what effect this will
have on business networking events.
So often my generation, and those before us, are still invited Amy Eden
to networking drinks, breakfasts and lunches, where we are
encouraged to talk, hand out paper business cards and make Project Leader
contact with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs. 3MPride
I attended a business breakfast meeting recently where the
guest speaker was physically present and I was obliged to Connecting the dots
talk and interact with others in my local community. Looking
around the room I noted those in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s…. The world’s top companies, think Google and the like, put
but none of our future generations were present and I can tell human connection at the centre of their organisation and for
you this is not the first decade of my attendance at such events very good reason. Humans are born wired for connection - it’s
and I can bet this is the same for many others in this room. We in our DNA, as strong as the need for food and shelter. We
have all been ‘getting up, dressing up and showing up’ for these need social connection like we need oxygen. Our well-being

events for many years and even decades now. depends on our connection with others. Our drive for social
It begged me to ask the question: Will this form of networking connectedness is so deeply wired that being socially excluded
exist when my children are in business? So many companies no hurts like an actual wound.
longer have physical business cards and younger generations However, somewhere along the line with the convenience of
communicate almost exclusively via social media platforms our virtual realities and online instantly gratified existence
and electronic means. Will the success of future networking we have traded in eye contact for iPhones and fist pumps
ventures be measured by how many likes it gains or new ‘friends’ and high fives for ‘pokes’ and ‘waves’. We’ve traded in human
it acquires rather than who we met, talked to and interacted with contact for digital distance. Recall a significant memory; it’s
at a luncheon? highly likely laced with emotion. You are connected to that
Maybe the human race is just too social to let this happen, memory by feelings. We have all heard Johnathan Thurston’s
however I fear maybe this won’t be the case. I propose next distinctive ‘kookaburra’ laugh and have felt compelled to
time you think about doing a meeting over the phone or laugh along with him. We feel happier for hearing JT laugh.
watching a seminar online, consider whether you attend We are connected in that moment. The same feelings of
in person and have a coffee or physically go to a seminar. I happiness or connectivity are not experienced on receipt of a
truly believe physical presence can give value to a networking laughing emoji.
meeting, a value that can’t be experienced electronically. In the Recent studies show that while our number of ‘friends’ has
words of the great C. S. Lewis: “Friendship is unnecessary, like been boosted, so too have our feelings of isolation, loneliness
philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of and disconnection. It’s not by chance that after a cyclone or
those things that give value to survival”. a tragedy, the community bands together. These challenging
Will future businesses value physical networking? Hotels, situations remind us of what is important... a sense of
business boardrooms and café’s definitely hope so. And so do I, belonging and connection.
even though I fail to remember my business cards at every event! So, how do we connect with community and develop a
sense of security and belonging outside the four walls of
MORE: phyxmephysiocairns.com.au our homes? Once you’ve identified the dots, how will you
connect them? For me, it was creating a community garden.
Now, I’m not the biggest green thumb, but through the
Manoora Community Garden I have grown friendships with
my neighbours, harvested relationships with community
groups and businesses and have found myself grounded in
my community. I have found my ‘why’ and in doing so I have
found my way - my sense of belonging.
Embracing what some are calling the ‘village movement’ and
forming neighbourhood connections, there is a saying: “Your
network is your net-worth”. With community connections,
your network is your net-wellbeing. A place where you are
valued for you and what you bring to the table. A place of
connectedness.
Isn’t that the kind of world we all want to live in? So, I
challenge you - what will you do to build stronger community
connections? How will you connect the dots?

50 • Tropic • Issue 15