Working the room at a conference or industry lunch can leave you wanting to slather on the hand sanitizer—and not only because you have just shaken so many hands. Networking is vital for professionals across industries, from the most junior associate to the most well-established executive. But while it is a necessary part of the job, many people view it as an unpleasant one.
Maryam Kouchaki, an assistant professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, had certainly always viewed it that way. “No matter what profession you’re in, you need to get to know people: you need colleagues, a job, social support,” she says. “But when you get to a conference and start talking to people, it can actually be really awkward. It can feel uncomfortable and inauthentic.”
