What Type of Networker Are You?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  What's most likely to stop you from reaching out to someone you already know?

  • A.
    I don't think they'd want to hear from me.
  • B.
    I don't know what to say.
  • C.
    I'm not sure I have the bandwidth for this.
  • D.
    I don't want it to seem like I'm using them.
  • E.
    I always mean to reach out later.
• 2.
  You're about to send that person a message. What's your biggest hesitation?

  • A.
    I don't think I have anything worth saying.
  • B.
    I overthink every word.
  • C.
    It feels like one more thing on my plate.
  • D.
    I don't want them wondering what I want.
  • E.
    I keep meaning to send it.
• 3.
  You're catching up with someone over coffee. What feels hardest?

  • A.
    I worry I don't have much to contribute.
  • B.
    I worry the conversation will stall.
  • C.
    I worry I'll leave feeling exhausted.
  • D.
    I don't want to turn the conversation toward me.
  • E.
    I'm focused on the conversation, not what happens afterward.
• 4.
  The conversation turns to you. What feels most uncomfortable?

  • A.
    I don't think what I'm working on is that interesting.
  • B.
    I don't know how to explain what I'm looking for.
  • C.
    I'm careful not to take on more than I can handle.
  • D.
    I don't like feeling like I owe people.
  • E.
    I'm happy we reconnected; that feels like enough.
• 5.
  After a great conversation, what usually happens next?

  • A.
    I wonder if they got anything out of our conversation.
  • B.
    I don't know how to follow up.
  • C.
    I need time to recharge first.
  • D.
    I don't want to reach out too soon and seem like I want something.
  • E.
    I expect we'll stay in touch.
• 6.
  When you think about networking, which thought feels most familiar?

  • A.
    I don't feel like I have much to offer.
  • B.
    I wish I knew exactly what to say.
  • C.
    I have to be careful where I spend my energy.
  • D.
    I don't like feeling like I owe people.
  • E.
    I know I should keep in touch more often.
• 7.
  What's most likely to keep you from networking consistently?

  • A.
    I don't feel like I have enough to offer.
  • B.
    I never know the right thing to say.
  • C.
    I don't want to stretch myself too thin.
  • D.
    I don't want networking to feel fake.
  • E.
    I always think I'll do it next week.
• 8.
  Right now, what do you most want networking to help you with?

  • A.
    Finding my next job or making a career change.
  • B.
    Growing my business or finding more clients/customers.
  • C.
    Exploring what I want to do next and getting clarity on my direction.
  • D.
    Building relationships in my current field so I’m not isolated in my role.
  • E.
    Reconnecting with people I’ve lost touch with and keeping my network warm.

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  You are a Self-Doubting Giver

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  Your primary networking obstacle:Holding back because you doubt your valueYou are not bad at networking.You are not selfish.You are not someone who only takes from relationships.In fact, you are probably the opposite.You care about helping people.You want to be useful.You want to bring value.But that strength can also create your biggest networking obstacle.You may find yourself thinking:“Why would they want to hear from me?”“I don’t have anything worth saying.”“I don’t feel like I have enough to offer.”That is the voice of the Self-Doubting Giver.What this meansYou often hold back because you assume you need to have something valuable to offer before you reach out.You don’t want to bother people.You don’t want to waste their time.You don’t want to show up empty-handed.So instead of sending the message, you wait.You wait until you have the perfect reason.You wait until you have something useful to say.You wait until you feel more confident.But the waiting quietly keeps you disconnected.There’s nothing wrong with youThis happens because you care.You care about being helpful.You care about the other person’s time.You care about not making the relationship one-sided.That is a good thing.Your challenge is that you may underestimate the value of your presence, your curiosity, your encouragement, and your attention.Sometimes the value is not in having the perfect advice.Sometimes the value is simply in reaching out.Your networking superpower:Thoughtful generosityYou notice people.You want to help.You think before you speak.You don’t want to take more than you give.That makes you trustworthy.People like having thoughtful people in their network.But your generosity only helps people if you let them experience it.How this gets in your wayThe shadow side of your generosity is self-doubt.You may assume other people have more to offer than you do.You may downplay your experience.You may think your message has to be impressive before it is worth sending.But networking does not start with proving your value.It starts with connection.Your first stepChoose one person you already know.Send a simple message:"You crossed my mind today, and I wanted to check in. What’s new in your world?"That’s it.No pitch.No big ask.No pressure to be impressive.Just connection.What’s nextYour job is not to become more impressive before you network.Your job is to recognize that you already bring value.Start small.Reach out to one person.Let the relationship begin there.Want to become a more confident networker?Click Continue
• 2.
  You are a Tongue-Tied Starter

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  Your primary networking obstacle:Holding back because you don’t know what to sayYou don’t struggle with networking because you don’t care about people.You struggle because the words get stuck.You may know exactly who you want to reach out to.You may even know why you want to reconnect.But then you open the message box and freeze.You think:“I don’t know what to say.”“I overthink every word.”“I wish I knew exactly what to say.”That is the voice of the Tongue-Tied Starter.What this meansYour biggest networking obstacle is not the relationship.It is the starting point.You want the message to sound natural.You want the conversation to go well.You don’t want to come across as awkward, needy, random, or strange.So you rewrite the message.Then you rewrite it again.Then you decide to come back to it later.And the message never gets sent.There’s nothing wrong with youThis happens because you are thoughtful.You care about how your words land.You don’t want to be careless with people.That is a strength.The problem is that thoughtfulness can turn into overthinking.You start believing there is one perfect thing to say.And if you can’t find it, you say nothing.Your networking superpower:Intentional communicationYou don’t want to spam people.You don’t want to send lazy messages.You want your words to matter.That makes you a careful communicator.Once you have a simple structure, you can be very good at networking because you are not trying to fake confidence.You are trying to communicate clearly.How this gets in your wayThe shadow side of intentional communication is hesitation.You may spend more time thinking about the message than sending it.You may avoid conversations because you worry they will stall.You may know what you want to say in your head but struggle to put it into words.But networking does not require perfect words.It requires a starting point.Your first stepUse this simple message:"You crossed my mind today, and I realized it’s been a while since we caught up. What’s new with you?"That works because it is clear, warm, and easy to answer.You don’t need to be clever.You don’t need to explain everything.You just need to start.What’s nextYou do not need better words.You need a simple way to begin.Once the conversation starts, you can listen, ask questions, and let the relationship grow from there.Want to become a more confident networker?Click Continue
• 3.
  You are an Energy Guard

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  Your primary networking obstacle:Holding back to protect your energyYou are not lazy.You are not antisocial.You are not uninterested in relationships.You are careful with your capacity.You know that conversations, messages, events, and follow-ups can take more out of you than people realize.So when you think about networking, your mind may go here:“I’m not sure I have the bandwidth for this.”“It feels like one more thing on my plate.”“I don’t want to stretch myself too thin.”That is the voice of the Energy Guard.What this meansYou are not avoiding networking because relationships don’t matter to you.You are avoiding networking because your energy matters too.You may look at networking and immediately calculate the cost.How much time will this take?How much follow-up will it require?Will this conversation drain me?Will this become one more thing I have to keep up with?That calculation makes sense.But it can also keep you from building relationships that would actually support you.There’s nothing wrong with youThis happens because you are intentional.You don’t want to spend your energy everywhere.You don’t want to say yes to every coffee chat, event, message, or introduction.That is a strength.The problem is when protecting your energy turns into avoiding connection entirely.You don’t need a bigger social battery.You need a smaller networking habit.Your networking superpower:Purposeful connectionYou are not interested in shallow networking for the sake of networking.You want relationships that matter.You are more likely to value depth over volume.That is powerful.You don’t need to know everyone.You need a manageable way to stay connected with the right people.How this gets in your wayThe shadow side of purposeful connection is withdrawal.If networking feels too big, too vague, or too open-ended, you may avoid it.Not because you don’t care.Because it feels like too much.But networking does not have to be a massive project.It can be small.It can be sustainable.It can fit your life.Your first stepChoose one small networking action this week.Not ten.One.Send one message to one person:"You crossed my mind today, and I wanted to check in. How have you been?"Then stop.You are allowed to build your network at a pace you can sustain.What’s nextYou do not need more energy.You need a networking strategy that respects your energy.Small, consistent actions will work better for you than big bursts followed by disappearing.Want to become a more confident networker?Click Continue
• 4.
  You are an Authenticity Protector

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  Your primary networking obstacle:Holding back because networking feels transactionalYou are not bad at networking.You are not unfriendly.You are not unwilling to help people.In fact, relationships matter deeply to you.That is exactly why networking can feel uncomfortable.You may think:“I don’t want it to seem like I’m using them.”“I don’t like feeling like I owe people.”“I don’t want networking to feel fake.”That is the voice of the Authenticity Protector.What this meansYou want your relationships to be real.You don’t want hidden agendas.You don’t want people wondering what you want from them.You don’t want to reach out only when you need something.And you definitely don’t want a relationship to start feeling like a transaction.So you hold back.You may need help.You may want support.You may want to reconnect.But the moment there is a benefit attached, something feels off.There’s nothing wrong with youThis happens because you value integrity.You care about people as people.You don’t want to reduce a relationship to what someone can do for you.That is a strength.The problem is that you may start believing that any benefit makes the relationship less authentic.But healthy relationships are allowed to be mutually beneficial.People who care about you want to know what is going on in your life.They want to know what you are working on.They want to know how they can help.That does not make the relationship fake.It may actually make it more honest.Your networking superpower:Genuine relationshipsYou are not trying to collect contacts.You want trust.You want real conversations.You want relationships that feel human.That makes you someone people can trust.Your challenge is learning how to be honest about your goals without feeling like you are using people.How this gets in your wayThe shadow side of authenticity is hiding your needs.You may keep conversations safe by only asking about the other person.You may avoid mentioning what you are working on.You may wait so long to ask for help that people never get the chance to support you.But hiding your needs does not make the relationship more authentic.Sometimes it makes the relationship less honest.Your first stepReach out to someone with genuine curiosity and no immediate ask.Try this:"You crossed my mind today, and I wanted to check in. What’s new in your world?"Then listen.Look for ways to help.Let the relationship become active again before you ask for anything.What’s nextYou do not need to become a different person to network.You need a definition of networking that matches your values.Networking is not using people.Done well, networking is staying connected, being helpful, and letting people know how they can help you too.Want to become a more confident networker?Click Continue
• 5.
  You are a One-Conversation Connector

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  Your primary networking obstacle:Holding back because relationships fade after the first conversationYou don’t struggle to connect with people.In fact, connection may come naturally to you.You can have a great conversation.You can make someone feel comfortable.You can build rapport quickly.Your challenge usually begins after the conversation ends.You may think:“I always mean to reach out later.”“I’m happy we reconnected—that feels like enough.”“I know I should keep in touch more often.”That is the voice of the One-Conversation Connector.What this meansYou are good at the first conversation.You may enjoy catching up.You may leave a conversation feeling like it went well.And because it went well, you assume the relationship is alive again.But then life gets busy.A week passes.Then a month.Then it feels awkward to reach out.The relationship fades, not because the connection was fake, but because there was no simple system to keep it going.There’s nothing wrong with youThis happens because you value natural connection.You don’t want relationships to feel forced.You don’t want to turn people into tasks.You don’t want networking to become a spreadsheet.That makes sense.The problem is that relationships rarely maintain themselves automatically.Even good relationships need small moments of attention.Your networking superpower:Natural connectionYou are good at making the first conversation feel easy.People probably enjoy talking with you.You may be curious, personable, and warm.That is a real strength.You don’t need better first conversations.You need a better way to keep good conversations from disappearing.How this gets in your wayThe shadow side of natural connection is lack of follow-through.Because the conversation felt good, you may assume the relationship will naturally continue.But most people are busy.They may like you.They may want to stay in touch.They may even be willing to help.But someone has to create the next touchpoint.That someone can be you.Your first stepThink of three people you have talked with recently.Send one of them this message:"I enjoyed catching up with you. Let’s not wait so long next time."It's simple.It is natural.It keeps the relationship alive.What’s nextYou do not need to become more structured in every part of your life.You just need one simple follow-up habit.The goal is not to make relationships feel mechanical.The goal is to keep good relationships from fading.Want to become a more confident networker?Click Continue