Professional Networking during COVID
It was January 2020, and the year was off to a fast start. BOMA took place, title companies were hosting luncheons and commercial forums, and from 12-1 across the valley, comps were being whispered under breath at local eateries around the Treasure Valley. My calendar was filled with the typical day to day of commercial real estate dealings--but spruced in were coffee appts, meals with other agents and future clients, and the occasional after-hours golf round or chamber-esque event.
Then it happened. The numbers shifted. COVID became a common phrase. Face masks no longer seemed awkward, and the gap started to grow. It wasn’t an instant change from regular networking to nothing, but rather, a slow turn of the valve. A lunch as Kona Grill was moved, 3x, then cancelled. An event was held with limited attendance. Meetings went from in person to zoom. After a couple of months, it was noticeable that face to face socialization, or networking as we call it is the business world, had slowed or stopped for many.
As an extrovert with a seemingly endless amount of desire for interpersonal contact, I found myself in a mysterious new world. How could I build relationships in the box that this new situation had confined me to? Well, simply put, I had to get over some mental road blocks. I had to pivot and understand that networking doesn’t only mean to face to face interactions from less that six feet.
My solutions came slowly, after overcoming basic insecurities, but have gained momentum. I recorded videos and started writing blogs for social media. I started to calling people I did not know to have regular personable conversations about commercial real estate needs. I went through older emails to reach out to past clients to provide value to them now. I started a Facebook group for like-minded commercial real estate agents in the valley. I took part in Haves/Wants email groups from the local title companies. I engaged in forums around the nation related to our profession. I engaged in Zoom meetings with fellow coworkers.
I am not saying that I have the cure all for networking during this time. What I am saying is you have to be willing to take a step toward something different than what you have been doing, since we have had a social shift. This all felt as if I was treading in mud at first, since it was not “natural” to me—although, as I have noted since the pandemic began, pushing through the discomfort into new ways of thinking and systems of work has been essential.
I can’t wait till I can walk around a room with 100+ people again and not fear contraction of a feared contagion. I can’t wait for the stress of others to dissipate enough for networking to fun and engaging. Until then however, I am learning to bolster my networking toolbelt with strategies that may become more than the norm than I want to imagine. I hope you are doing the same.