Lockdown burnt a fire through the business world, wiping out countless businesses and causing untold damage to many others. But like any cleansing fire, what remains is often healthier. James West of ONLE Networking explains why we’ll all be thankful for these enforced changes to the way we work and network in the long run.

I’ve noticed a marked reduction of people pining for the “good old days” of work and networking. Maybe it’s because the majority of people now recognise this as rose-tinted glasses thinking. Because if we look at the working situation rationally, things weren’t better before lockdown.

In fact, I’ve spoken to many people that having tasted ‘normal’ working realise they don’t want it back after all. A recent article from Wired UK illustrated this beautifully, reporting that many people returning to open-plan offices have been stunned by how noisy it is and resorted to booking meeting rooms to conduct Zoom calls and get work done.

Remote working and video communications are not responsible for the change we’ve seen in the past year because they’ve been available for more than a decade. The revolution is not technology, the revolution is the collective realisation that being in the same physical space is no longer pre-requisite to working together or building relationships.

That profound realisation is the reason why what was once seen as a stop-gap has become a much better way to work. Here are 5 reasons why networking (and working) is now better since we abandoned ‘normal’.

# 1: Life is more important than an antiquated work schedule

The fact that we no longer need to meet is having a profound effect on how we work. But it’s more important than introducing a flexible working culture. Take for example a recent article from Chris Herd, founder and CEO of Firstbase. He believes that mass adoption of remote working is changing lives. Most specifically, we’ve dismantled not just the way we work, but the way work blends with our lives. In summary, life now comes first, work second.

Working smarter isn’t just about saving time - it’s about getting your priorities straight. The ‘work-life balance’ has given way to the ‘work-life blend’. In other words, we should all have the freedom to design our days without the need to compromise on the things that matter to us. For us at ONLE that means networking at 8.30am, or 10.00am, or even supper time. For you it might mean a mid-morning yoga session; the after-school family chat; opening up the laptop after the kids have gone to bed.

James West, ONLE Networking.jpg — “The revolution is the collective realisation that being in the same physical space is no longer pre-requisite to working together or building relationships.”
*James West, ONLE Networking*

And of course, there are obvious advantages - who really misses getting up before the sun and enduring a two-hour round trip to get to meetings? This is not just extra time claimed back but also the freedom to work wherever and with whoever we want. Supervising a new puppy? No problem. Working from the beach hut? Sure. As long as the wifi reaches and you can easily be seen, there is now the flexibility to work in a way that is most productive and efficient for each of us.

Whether it is work, family or personal choices, the ability to pursue our own purpose has never been more in reach. Stepping away from the 9-5 provides the opportunity to prioritise our personal lives rather than shoe-horning it around your work commitments. After all, so long as we ‘get it done’, does it matter when or how?

# 2 It’s not just travel time we’re saving

Yes, it’s obvious that online meetings and networking saved us travel time. But we’ve actually saved more time because we’ve avoided so many POINTLESS meetings. Yes, we may have missed those positive and energising get-togethers. But do we rue the boring or even awkward conversations? Do any of us feel sad because we avoided that meeting which (even while it was happening) you realised could have been distilled into a 30-minute video call?

I love networking and meeting people. I’ve met countless fascinating people, many of who have become my friends. But I’ve also lost count of the instances of pointless small talk and the conversations with people whose interest in me finished when they ascertained I wasn’t going to buy from them. I’ve lost half days to these meetings - a meeting that had it happened online I could have chopped down to less than 30 minutes.

None of us seem to have more time since we stopped doing these things. So why would we populate our diaries with these meetings for the sake of it?

# 3 We no longer need to be two people

I’ve seen what’s on your bookshelf, spotted your cat in the background and heard your kids being sent out to school. Yes, we’ve joked about the novelty factor of this aspect of video calling, but I think this has had a more profound effect on working culture than I think many people have realised. Do you remember that BBC News clip when the interviewee’s daughter walked in? It was a big deal at the time and we all felt for the poor chap who must have been so embarrassed. Now, it would barely register - we’d probably just chuckle to ourselves because of the familiarity of it.

Since lockdown, we’re been freed from the burden of being a different person at work. We are people with lives and partners and children and pets and dreams and holidays and it makes it easier to build genuine relationships than ever because we’re being honest.

#4 Move the goalposts? What about abandoning them altogether?

Networking has always appealed to entrepreneurs, freelancers and business owners. After all, it is an invaluable marketing tool for reaching new customers, building valuable connections and meeting potential suppliers. And now that geography is no longer an issue, online networking has truly broadened our reach, with three key benefits.

Firstly, with greater choice, online networking offers the ability to focus more specifically on our goals, however and wherever this can be achieved. Secondly, the ability to access a new audience that we wouldn’t necessarily be able to otherwise, enabling small businesses to grow more easily. Finally, the ability to embark on new ventures even if you do not live in a large city with multiple networking groups on your doorstep.

Let’s face it, before online networking took off, the furthest most people would travel to networking was 20/30 miles. As we expand our online networks (and watch this space for more from ONLE on this…), we’ll look back and laugh at how incredibly restrictive our networking used to be.

#5 Live experiences - because you want to, not because you have to

In person networking is now more enjoyable because it’s social and there’s less pressure

ONLE Experience at Four Seasons Hampshire

Of course, we miss seeing people in person. We miss the company of others and being able to look into the whites of their eyes. We miss the familiarity of a handshake, a tap on the shoulder, or perhaps even – a friendly hug! Networking (and working) might be staying online, but there will always been room for face-to-face events.

I’ve enjoyed meeting people in person via our ONLE Experiences programme and informal one-to-ones. But now it’s no longer a prerequisite to network in person, the pressure is off, so it comes more about getting to know the person rather than the transactional aspects of networking. And because the in-person activities are optional, no one in our network is excluded. Love meeting people in person? Great - you can do that. Unable to meet in person because of personal preference or situation? No problem - you’re still part of the network. And if you’re in the latter camp - you’re certainly not alone.

And this is just the beginning!

The changes I’ve described in this blog have happened at such a furious pace and there’s more to come. Remember - this is version 1.0 of a revolution that is changing the way we work and conduct our lives. Not everyone is up to speed. So as more people become more comfortable with communicating, collaborating and networking online, the benefits will magnify and the more ridiculous those once frequent calls for the return of “normal” will sound.

Learn why online networking is so effective for our members by visiting one of our meetings:

ONLE meeting calendar