Why Networking is Crucial- but often difficult- for disabled people.
Networking is the bedrock of any successful business venture. It opens doors to collaborative opportunities, mentorship, industry insights, and sometimes, the indispensable meet-cutes that can catapult a business to new heights. While networking is universally essential, it holds particular significance and presents challenges for disabled entrepreneurs like myself. I haven’t seen many conversations on this topic, which I believe is crucial for supporting disabled entrepreneurs- so let's unpack the challenges and solutions for effective networking strategies tailored for disabled entrepreneurs.
Why Networking is important for Entrepreneurs
Networking, at its core, is about cultivating meaningful relationships. As entrepreneurs, these relationships do more than feed our social well-being; they contribute directly to our business and growth potential. Interacting with other business owners and experts within your field offers a treasure trove of opportunities, including but not limited to:
Valuable Advice: First-hand tips and tactics from those who have already walked the path can be incredibly enlightening.
Mentorship: A guiding hand can sometimes make all the difference, helping you sidestep pitfalls and fast-tracking your growth.
Collaboration: Partnership prospects often come from networking, allowing for synergistic relationships that benefit both parties.
Industry Credibility: Networking can facilitate your journey in becoming a thought leader, adding weight to your reputation and brand.
Barriers: Networking as a Disabled Entrepreneur
Networking is seldom a straightforward process, but for disabled entrepreneurs, several challenges are often added to the equation. These can range from physical limitations to social anxiety and, most prevalently, lack of accessible opportunities.
Social Anxiety: A common byproduct of being 'different' in a society that often struggles with inclusion. Social anxiety can make initiating conversations and maintaining them incredibly stressful.
Inaccessibility: Many networking events aren't designed with accessibility in mind, lacking features like sign language interpreters, ramps, or digital access options.
Lack of engagement: even after traversing the barriers laid out above, many non-disabled people will not engage with disabled people during networking sessions because they fear saying the wrong thing or believing that the disabled person will have nothing to offer them (without even meeting them!)
A New Age of Networking: Digital Solutions and Strategies
There are increasingly more ways to overcome these hurdles in our digitally connected age. Online communities and forums, social media platforms, and professional networking sites like LinkedIn offer alternative avenues to traditional face-to-face interactions.
Online Communities: Platforms like Facebook and Reddit have multiple groups for discussing industry-specific advice, job postings, and partnership opportunities.
Social Media Networking: Twitter, for instance, became an excellent platform for entrepreneurs to share ideas, learn from experts, and even directly reach out to potential clients or partners. Sadly, this is no longer the case, with many people leaving the platform.
Virtual Meetings: Sometimes, a Zoom call can be as effective as a physical meeting with fewer accessibility concerns. However, access is still required for these platforms, with the most basic free actions including turning on closed captions and not requiring everyone to have their camera on.
The Problem with Online Networking
The online filter- or lack of one- doesn’t always create the safe and trusted space everyone needs when networking. It can be easy to feel frustrated and like no one is listening to you if you don’t get any engagement, and in effect, often just ends up as endless posts of sales spiels with no meaningful connections or conversations occurring.
Some initiatives and organisations focus on disabled entrepreneurs designed to level the playing field. But these often focus on disability as a topic within itself, with limited numbers of non-disabled people engaging, creating an echo chamber of the same people showing up time after time.
Goals: The Compass of Networking
As you wade through these networking waters, your goals act as your compass. Are you looking for clients, or are you more interested in partnerships? Perhaps you're after mentorship. Your networking approach should mirror what you aim to achieve. Tailored efforts are generally more successful than broad, unfocused attempts at making connections.
Before you go to an event, figure out what networking means for you and what you want to get out of it at this specific moment- it will change every time!- It may be that after sitting down and understanding what your asks are, you can actively spend some time on social media looking for the right person to introduce yourself to or looking up online solutions that actually your ‘goal’ doesn’t have to include going to an in-person networking event.
Creating Equity in Networking: Actionable Steps for More Inclusive Connections
As someone who’s immersed in creating accessible and inclusive work cultures, I can't stress enough the significance of equity in networking. More than ever, there's a call for proactive approaches to make networking inclusive and accessible for everyone, particularly disabled entrepreneurs. So let’s dive into some actionable solutions to these pressing issues.
Running a Networking Group with Accessibility in Mind
If you’re in the position of running a networking group, have you considered the accessibility of your events? Ensure the venues you choose comply with accessibility standards, providing facilities such as ramps, lifts, and accessible restrooms. If the event involves presentations, ensure there are options for closed captioning or sign language interpreters. Remember, an accessible networking event isn't just a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s necessary for many potential attendees. Not sure if you’ve got it right? Make sure you’re actively engaging with disabled people who want to attend! (If you don’t have any disabled people wanting to attend and therefore think it’s not worth the effort, have a think about why they may not feel like they want to attend in the first place…)
Online Events: Opening Up the Digital Space
The rise of online events has been a godsend for many who face accessibility challenges in physical spaces. If you’re running webinars, Zoom meetings, or any other digital event, consider opening them up to wider audiences on occasion. Partner with a disabled-led organisation in ANY area. This serves dual purposes: it offers a platform for disabled entrepreneurs and promotes diversity of thought, which can be incredibly enriching for all attendees.
Leverage LinkedIn and Social Media: Don't Wait, Just Ask
Social media platforms like LinkedIn can serve as powerful tools for networking, but they are not just platforms for passive consumption. Use them to reach out to people who you think could offer insights, advice, or even collaboration opportunities. Need support or have questions? Don’t wait for a networking event to ask. A well-crafted LinkedIn message can be just as effective in establishing a connection or getting the help you need.
The Power of Introductions: A Personal Network’s Gift
Introductions can be incredibly powerful. I've found that some of my most valuable connections have come from being introduced by someone in my network. A warm email introduction isn't just a courtesy; it's an endorsement and carries weight. So, if someone in your network could benefit from meeting someone you know, take the initiative. Introduce them. You never know; your action could catalyse a valuable new relationship for both parties involved, and they will be more inclined to do the same thing back for you.
So what next?
Creating equity in networking requires intentionality. It's about thinking beyond your immediate needs and considering how you can make the networking landscape a more inclusive and accessible space. Whether you’re running networking groups, organising online events, leveraging social media platforms, making introductions, or expanding your network's network, each action you take contributes to a more equitable and diverse networking environment.
So, why not take a step today to make your network more inclusive? Your action, no matter how small, can contribute significantly to someone else's entrepreneurial journey. After all, a network that thrives on diversity isn’t just good ethics; it’s good business.