You’ve Been Networking Wrong!
We’ve all experienced it; the averagely-skilled announcer, probably with fewer on air flying hours than yourself, spotted at work drinks laughing a little too hard at the boss’s tired old stories of ‘the good ole days’.
Always quick to eat the costs of a Monday morning coffee for the Program Director, first to like the Promotions Manager’s boring food-snap on Instagram. Leaning in, literally during airchecks, feverishly nodding along in agreement to the critical feedback on the last on air shift (but secretly holding back their distain)..
It’s the sleazy, but important side of radio; Networking
Striking up personal relationships can be hard when you’re an emotionally-stunted introvert like me. My usual M.O. of workplace relationships..
Be unintentionally cold around a new person for a few weeks
Strike up a casual workplace friendship while my guard drops
Develop a ‘We ride at dawn!’ relationship, usually after a traumatic period/problem at work
Completely forget they exist when they leave because they’re no longer in my actual field of view and I have an irrational fear of digital communication
If viewed solely as a strategic way of climbing the career-ladder, networking is a chore, done by those possessing a master-level of talent in boot-licking, rather than announcing. A cynical tactic employed by those looking for shortcuts to the top, when their time should be devoted to learning the craft.
Well, that’s how I incorrectly looked at it for the longest time to my personal detriment.
For years I witnessed my peers strike up relationships with their superiors - laughing in the hallways, referencing gags formed over out-of-hours beers. Shooting the sh*t in the managers’ office while they ate takeaway Bahn mi’s they popped out the office to get. It would make me seethe.
While my colleagues would be yukking it up, I’d be editing voxpops recorded on the street from that morning. Spending 40mins pre-editing a comedy bit that would disappear into the ether after playing out for 20 seconds. I was investing time into becoming the best announcer I could be, and they were wasting theirs.
Now after 24 years in The Biz, I realise they were onto something.. That’s why I touch on networking in both the Starting Out: Off Air, and Lastly: Make These Your Lasting Habits Radio101 video modules..
The main reason we’re told to network is for career opportunities. To be top of mind when there’s a job opening, and hopefully enjoy a little bit of nepotism. Take it from a rapidly aging CHR jock; that’s only a fraction of the benefits.
The actual reason networking should be at the top of your list? Friendship.
Find new mates in different age brackets, expose yourself to different modes of thinking, gain a fresh perspective on an issue, workshop a novel solution to a problem, find a new sounding board for career advice, make an unlikely friend… These are the true, lasting benefits of networking!
After a while of meaningful contact either face-to-face or over email/social media, then the ‘traditional’ benefits will begin to foster. Now you’ve forged a deeper connection with someone they’re more likely to have you top of mind for a potential job opening, or see you in a different light for the kind of opportunity you wouldn’t normally expect.
Far too many times I’ve been included on a mass BCC mail out, with some bland subject title ala “Recent breaks, would love your feedback!”. This is fine on occasion but doesn’t follow the above principles of ‘meaningful interaction’. What’s not only worse, but detrimental to your networking would be if I take time out of my busy schedule to provide feedback, only for you to mass-email the following week with a similar subject title, and not demonstrate implementation any of the feedback I gave!
I can think of 3 times in 2025 alone where this kind of interaction has occurred, and now I know these people’s names by memory. Not in a good way.
Use these as thought-starters for meaningful networking..
Invite someone as your +1 to a movie preview
Schedule a coffee catchup - brew is on you
Forward the occasional funny meme that’s relevant to your relationship dynamic
Send an example of your actioning specific feedback
Ask what books they might’ve read that helped in their life/career
Offer to come in on your own time and ghost their day
If you’ve got anything in particular you’d like me to go overboard in detail with, hit me up and I’ll add it to the blog-list!