Episode 304: How to Actually Enjoy Networking (Yes, It’s Possible)
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Let’s be real: most of us hate networking. From awkward small talk to fake smiles and business card exchanges that go nowhere, the whole thing can feel like a bad speed-dating event. But what if it didn’t have to? In this episode of Workday Playdate, Erin flips the script with a playful, improv-infused approach that makes networking fun, energizing, and actually effective.
Why Networking Feels So Hard
A staggering 70% of professionals admit they dread networking, even though 85% of new opportunities come through it. The problem? Too often, we treat networking like a transaction instead of a real conversation. Erin digs into why humans are wired for authentic connection and how improv techniques—being present, saying yes, and making others look good—can instantly transform the experience.
The Five-Step Play Process
Here’s where it gets good. Erin unveils her signature Five-Step Play Process to help you actually enjoy networking. From reframing the room (“collect stories, not contacts”) to playing the classic “YES, AND” game, using names playfully, becoming the “Compliment Fairy,” and setting a fun networking goal, this framework makes meeting people feel more like a scavenger hunt than a corporate chore.
Networking With Joy and Authenticity
Forget the stiff elevator pitches and sweaty-palmed introductions. When you show up with curiosity and a service-first mindset, conversations flow naturally, and genuine connections stick. Erin shares how to shift your perspective so networking stops being a necessary evil and starts being a tool for joy, opportunity, and resilience. Spoiler: when you make others feel good, you win too.
Your Play Challenge
Ready to put this into action? Erin challenges you to try one (or all five!) of these steps at your next event, coffee chat, or even with your barista. Then, report back with your funniest or most surprising story for a chance at a shout-out on the show. If you’ve ever wished networking felt less like work and more like play, this episode is your permission slip to show up differently, and actually enjoy it.
Feeling awkward, overthinking your small talk, or wondering if you should’ve just stayed home?
Grab our free Networking Without Feeling Weird toolkit. It’s your two-part confidence boost for before and during the event, packed with simple, human strategies that help you walk in clear, grounded, and ready to connect. Download it now and turn “Ugh, networking…” into “That was actually… fun?”
No, You Hang Up First (Let’s Keep Connecting)
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