Lawyer Monthly Magazine - November 2019 Edition

which we feel is the necessary evil of getting ahead at work – often defines the outcome. We exchange business cards and we connect on LinkedIn, but we fail to truly touch the other person’s soul. As a result, the effectiveness of this new superficial connection is close to zero, we get no new business or career opportunity. This half- hearted effort becomes a self- fulfilled prophecy: networking does not work. There is another way, however. We can change our paradigm of networking. Networking, really, is a platform to connect with a fellow human being, with the added benefit of being structured around the professional background that you can both relate to. What’s not to like? Furthermore, this is a great opportunity to experience your authenticity, to share your beliefs and opinions, and see how they resonate with others. Networking at its core is an exciting journey of getting to know those who might play a crucial role in the next step of your career and life journey. When approached with the right mentality, it really is irrelevant whether you are an extrovert or an introvert – you can connect deeply and develop a mutually benefitting relationship with a fellow extrovert or introvert, but only if you are unafraid to be your genuine, real self. Networking and authenticity – these are different sides of the same coin. What’s more, as I wrote in my previous article, when we set our minds on benefiting not just ourselves, but society at large, when we aim to connect others and create a true network of mutually useful contacts, this takes the focus away from the perceived self- promoting image of a typical “networker”, to that of an altruist looking to dig deep, acquire the knowledge of the skills of others, and share this. This is an achievable level of interaction for anyone looking to propel their professional life forward. LM 25 NOV 2019 | WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM Special Feature By Alisa Grafton, Cheeswrights ABOUT ALISA GRAFTON Alisa is a Partner at Cheeswrights, a reputable firm of Scrivener Notaries, legal professionals special- ising in cross-border trans- actions. Being only the sec- ond female partner in the 240 years’ history of the firm, she credits her professional success to her proactive approach to business de- velopment and networking. Formerly an active member of the Board and the Direc- tor of Marketing & Com- munications at City Women Network, she has a passion for establishing and nurtur- ing connections with a wide range of professionals in- side and outside of the law and on creating a positive personal brand. In 2015-2018 she ran the City Blog for BBC Russian Service where she spoke candidly about the chal- lenges of being a busy City parent. She frequently speaks on the practical as- pects of effective network- ing and the effective use of empathy, creativity and emotional intelligence as career and business tools.