Networking in a COVID-19 World
Most of us have accepted that things will not return to the way they were. Digital transformations are inevitable and will continue to shape every aspect of our future. If history has taught us anything, it should be that progress is never easy and that innovation is rarely cheap. Networking is no exception.
In many ways, I would argue that digital networking is a change for the better. Why? How can flatscreens and pajama pants win out over real-life human contact? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and really examine networking then, versus the potential of digital networking now.
Our Old Networking Reality
Serious, top-level networking used to involve business club memberships and paying dues to professional associations. We were expected to fly across the country or around the world, dressed for success, and armed with the company credit card. Meetings were long and surrounded by expensive meals, endless small talk, hotel stays, and separation from our families. But we accepted this reality. Good connections cost good money. And time. And patience. So we honed our social skills, polished our ice-breakers, and presented ourselves to the world with confidence, never questioning the efficiency of the plan.
If we attended a large conference or event, we were lost in the crowd. Hundreds or even thousands of attendees would race from one stage to another, trying to see all of the speakers and absorb all of the information. Content motivated us, not connections, and it was easy to be overwhelmed. Very little time (if any) was dedicated to networking, and even that was only while you were inhaling your lunch or drinking at the afterparty.
But, at the end of the day or business trip, how many connections had we truly made? How much time had we spent with people that were really relevant to us and our needs? In most cases, I would say not enough to warrant the time, expense, and inconvenience that we put ourselves through.
As with many things, familiarity and acceptance overpowered reason. There were obvious issues with inefficiency when it came to evaluating things like networking, conferences, and other business events. It’s simply the way things were done, so it is how we continued to do them. Until COVID-19.
The Velocity of Communication Has Changed
Now, as 2020 begins to draw to a close, we face a more advanced digital reality than we were prepared for. It feels like 2030 rather than 2020, and somewhere in the missing decade, we were supposed to have the time we needed to wrap our minds around this new virtual reality and learn the skills to succeed in it. But we didn’t have that time, and it doesn’t matter that we are not ready. The time is now to open our minds, sharpen our skills, and adapt.
Digital life requires an entirely new set of skills. Where before we could hide behind designer clothes and amazing glossy presentations, now we are stripped down to the bare minimum of what can fit on a screen and be communicated during a short video call. Effective digital communication requires intense focus and extreme flexibility. No more fifteen-minute introductions; now your entire call is 15 minutes. Maybe 30 if it’s something truly important. And even then, maybe a 2-minute introduction and then right to your planned structure, concise and focused information, and entertaining delivery. The expectations are high, but the practice and guidance have been low, which means that many people are still catching on and catching up.
Make no mistake, our new digital reality cuts through many, many layers of superficial distractions and diversions. Gone are the days of large in-person meetings. Here to stay are the days of focused, 100% intentional video connections. Where one meeting used to take an hour, plus preparations and transportation — now we can have five fast and focused zoom calls. Our time standards have been turned upside down as we connect faster with more people from more time zones.
Digital Networking is Not Cheap
We have spent decades and billions of dollars developing the internet and corresponding technology that allows our world to continue in a virtual space. The best minds of our time are still working relentlessly to improve and expand the opportunities for human connectivity.
When electric vacuum cleaners were introduced, people hated them. They were expensive and loud. The electricity was already present to power them, so why should they be so expensive? Many people chose to keep using a broom instead. But fast-forward a few decades. Almost everyone owns a vacuum. The purpose it serves may overlap with that of a broom, but in reality, a vacuum is far superior in every way. It just took us a little time to realize it. It took innovation, trial and error, and relentless salespeople to get a vacuum cleaner in every home. But they did it.
Unfortunately, we don’t have these years or the pushy salesmen that came with them to help us adapt to digital networking. No one is going to knock on our door and insist that they offer a demonstration on how to make video calls not suck. Our doors are shut and we have to figure it out on our own.
Progress and innovation are still required to make this digital reality work. An event may appear on your screen, but what remains hidden are the multitudes of people that it took to get that content in front of your face. The delivery of information through familiar internet channels may be cheap, but the process of selecting, refining, and creating an amazing product is not. We have the internet just as we had electricity, but the vacuum, the product, the actual networking — that still requires innovation and hardworking teams to reach reality.
How is the LinkUpConferenceShow adding value to this new reality?
At LinkUpConferenceShow (LUCS), we are embracing digital networking and putting our attendees at the top of our priority list. LUCS is focused on meaningful connections rather than endless content, and we’re not going to send you into the ring alone.
Our program follows a simple formula that prioritizes networking. Seventy percent of the event is dedicated to making personalized connections that are relevant to you and your goals. The remaining 30 percent of the program will consist of sparkling interviews with special guests who will inspire and re-energize you between networking sessions.
How can we ensure networking time with attendees who are active, relevant, and interested? We have developed a special algorithm that uses your personalized input to match you with other attendees that share your focus areas, goals, and needs. We are only admitting top-level managers, executives, and CEOs to ensure that power-players and key decision-makers are present, and we have focused this pilot event on only two verticals: FinTech and Telecom. But that’s not all.
We told you we wouldn’t send you into the ring alone. We are introducing trained, professional LinkUpManagers to support you through each of your 5 networking sessions. We are setting a 20-person limit for each session along with one amazing LinkUpManager to facilitate communication, break through those digital barriers, and ensure that everyone is engaged and communicating effectively. Digital communication can be more than difficult, but our specially trained LinkUpManagers are professional comedians and improvisers with years of experience in helping people connect, communicate, and laugh — an ingredient that we think is essential in times like these!
So, if you are ready to embrace our digital reality and start networking in a new way, join us at LinkUpConferenceShow. We will provide you with 100 meaningful and relevant contacts in a one-day event, focused on effective and enjoyable networking. And you can do it all from the comfort of your own space. No uncomfortable outfits, no meaningless small talk, no social distancing, and no masks. Just people, connections, and fun.
