I was raised to distrust schmoozing, the casual chatting and networking (awful term!) that are a natural part of business.
This bias was acquired in childhood. In my family, there was a clear distinction between workers and talkers, with the latter suspected of insincerity and a lack of substance. [One distant relative was held out as person who talked a good game but wasn't the sort you'd want to entrust with, say, your life savings.]
This anti-schmoozer prejudice is, of course, a mistake and can harm careers. It is not difficult to find people who didn't get promotions or business deals simply because they were relatively unknown commodities. The anti-schmoozers will groan, "You mean because they didn't kiss up to the boss or the customer!" That's not the case. We tend to select and do business with those whom we trust and like. Knowledge is an ingredient of each.
This bias was acquired in childhood. In my family, there was a clear distinction between workers and talkers, with the latter suspected of insincerity and a lack of substance. [One distant relative was held out as person who talked a good game but wasn't the sort you'd want to entrust with, say, your life savings.]
This anti-schmoozer prejudice is, of course, a mistake and can harm careers. It is not difficult to find people who didn't get promotions or business deals simply because they were relatively unknown commodities. The anti-schmoozers will groan, "You mean because they didn't kiss up to the boss or the customer!" That's not the case. We tend to select and do business with those whom we trust and like. Knowledge is an ingredient of each.
As a result of that hard truth, taking time to meet with co-workers and contacts is not an activity outside of work but is part of work. The question is whether it's done in a manner that contributes to the mission. Those of us who regard schmoozing as inherently questionable need to change our view of the job.
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