How can you tell you’re improving at networking (even if it feels hard)?
April 6, 2026
Is it hard to meet new people and stay in touch? That’s normal. A breakdown of thoughts and feelings that show you’re growing in networking.
How can you tell you’re growing in networking—even if it feels difficult?
Is it normal to find it difficult and uncomfortable to communicate?
What do you feel when you’re just starting with networking? Awkwardness? Fear? Fatigue?
Same here. You’re not alone in this.
Here’s a list of questions—if you answer “yes” to them, it’s a sign you’re growing in networking, even if it feels like things aren’t going the right way right now.
Why do I feel awkward when I start a conversation?
Do I even have anything valuable to offer?
Why don’t people respond—and how can you not take it personally?
Why does it seem like others communicate more easily than I do?
How do you get into circles where “everything is decided through connections”?
Why do I avoid communication—and then regret it later?
How can you learn to be useful—not just “network”?
How can you start noticing who is connected to whom—and why does it matter?
How do you find people through people (via second-degree connections)?
What should you do after meeting someone—how do you stay in touch?
Why is discomfort in networking a sign of growth?
It’s movement.
We begin to see connections as a system—and ourselves as part of that system.
And that’s the path to growth.
