Working Relationships vs. Networking: Which is Better?
One of the most common pieces of advice I've received from professionals is the importance of networking and honing your elevator pitch. While authenticity and recognizing your expertise "are important, the "show, don't tell" golden rule can go a long way." can go a long way. By lending a helping hand, practicing leadership, and staying curious, you can establish meaningful relationships with others.
Lending a Helping Hand
If you’re involved in GVPRSSA, you’re probably looking to build relationships with your classmates and student colleagues. You may be in the same class with them, assigned a project together, or even end up working at the same company. For that very reason, we all want to build our social network because of the saying, "It's about who you know, not what you know." But if that were entirely true, wouldn't it be straightforward?
Over the years, I've discovered that true success lies in collective achievement. Leadership creates the ability to empower and support others for the greater good of the group, company, or organization. When you demonstrate your skill set of assisting others, it demonstrates your unique skills and the effectiveness in imparting those skills to others. These genuine connections carry far more weight than a forced conversation at a networking event.
There are many different opportunities to lend a helping hand. Some examples include:
Volunteer at a WMPRSA event – this demonstrates leadership by contributing your skills to professional events.
Offer to proofread someone's work – this can take as little as 5 minutes and will help someone put forth their best work.
Join GrandPR (if you haven’t already) – this will give you real-life agency experience that the classroom can’t teach.
Share your expertise – teach someone a new skill you acquired through internships, classes, or other experiences.
Leadership
Leadership is built through working relationships. It comes in various forms, and one doesn’t need to hold a formal title to embody it. I've come to understand that true leaders find fulfillment in others’ success because they prioritize the teams’ success.
While imposter syndrome may present an obstacle, it’s important to utilize your strengths and produce your best work. Feeling comfortable enough to cultivate meaningful working relationships will contribute to developing trust and dependability.
Finding where you feel comfortable makes asking for help, sharing your knowledge, and being okay with making mistakes much easier. It's the foundation for great leadership. When you're in an environment where you feel at ease, you're more inclined to seek assistance when needed, freely share your expertise, and embrace the learning barriers. This type of self-awareness is important for developing leadership skills, as it embodies a mindset of continuous growth and collaboration.
Never Stop Being Curious
While leadership comes in different levels, it’s important to recognize where you can allocate your areas of expertise. This will help not only the organization as a whole but also contribute to your personal development. By helping others succeed, you’re demonstrating great leadership skills and showcasing your potential, which will make you stand out among your peers. These skills demonstrate the importance of working relationships over the power of social networking.
Olivia is a senior at Grand Valley State University studying Advertising and Public Relations with minors in Adventure Tourism and Economics. Currently, she serves as the GVPRSSA VP of Programming, Account Associate for GrandPR, and VP of Public Relations for GVSU Strength Club (CrossFit and Powerlifting). She also is a member of the WMPRSA DEI Committee. Olivia is passionate about addressing inequality gaps and creating equitable opportunities for everyone.
Olivia has experience running a freelance self-run photography business. Currently, she is interning at Irwin Seating Company in their marketing and communications department. Ideally, Olivia would like to work in a market research or strategy role for sustainability in the automotive industry.
In her free time, she enjoys CrossFit, nutrition, and outdoor adventure.