Wedding Business Solutions

Is the art of networking lost on Gen Y and Gen Z?

• Alan Berg, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow

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Is the art of networking lost on Gen Y and Gen Z?

Are the younger generations missing out on the benefits of traditional networking, or are they just doing it differently? How can we bridge the gap between generations in professional associations and networking groups? In this episode, I explore these questions and discuss how new approaches to networking can benefit us all, regardless of age.

Listen to this new 7-minute episode for insights on how to successfully network with Gen Y and Gen Z and how to make networking more relational than transactional.

Episode Summary: 
In this episode of the Wedding Business Solutions podcast, I dive into the question, "Is the art of networking lost on Gen Y and Gen Z?" Contrary to popular belief, I don't think it's lost; it's just different. I explore how younger generations are still actively networking through social media and online platforms. I emphasize the importance of adapting to their methods and fostering relationships based on value, rather than making them purely transactional. I also share insights on involving younger professionals in leadership roles and understanding their needs to create meaningful connections across generations. Tune in for some valuable networking strategies and tips on cross-generational collaboration.

If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.com 

Please be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com  


View the full transcript on Alan’s site: https://alanberg.com/blog/


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I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks.

Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site:

©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com

Is the art of networking lost on Gen Y and Gen Z? Listen to this episode. Let's see what we think. Hi, it's Alan Berg. Welcome back to another episode of the Wedding Business Solutions podcast. Is the art of networking lost on Gen Y and Gen Z? This is a question that came up and I'm trying to remember who did it. It might have been a listener suggestion and ask me anything. It might have been one of those. But let's talk about this for a second.

My short answer is no. I don't believe it's lost on them. I just think it's different. I'm hearing from a lot of associations around the country having trouble with membership. Covid certainly put a big dent into that. But I can tell you anecdotally from my two Gen Y sons that they're still networking. They're just maybe doing it a little bit differently. My older son is definitely well connected with different people through LinkedIn, through work, things like that.

That. So it's there. The question is, are people going to join local groups because of that? And I think what you have to do is you have to involve them in leadership. You have to involve them in what are the type of things that they want to do and want to accomplish so that you're, you're making this a valuable thing. I had this conversation with a local group just yesterday as a matter of fact and I remember way back when I was at the knot, I did a survey of associations and their members and what I was looking to see is were they aligned in terms of their goals with networking and most if not all associations, local and national. Your goal is to facilitate this network, this community and your and bring education and value to your members. Your job is not to get them business. In almost every case, that was not in the mission statement of a local association because it's usually not in their power to do that because you need an audience for that.

That's what advertising and marketing things are for. But you know, the association is there to help you learn better. Network with people and you might get business because of the people that also show up. Because we know that people refer people they know like and trust. If you haven't read the book the Go Giver by Bob Berg, B U R G he was also on the podcast Go back and look for that episode. That's what he said. All things remaining equal, we do business with people we know like and trust well. If you show up at these meetings, they're going to know can trust you.

And people are also Networking online, there are countless groups where people get together and they're chatting with people and you feel like you know them because you are networking with them. So I don't think it's lost. I think the idea of networking in person is just different. And I believe There are Gen Ys and Gen Z's that want to do it and there are people that don't. Just like there were Gen X's that wanted to in Gen X's that never showed up to a local meeting or never joined the local association. So if you are a member or a board member of a local association, you want to make yourself valuable to the next generations that are coming up, you need to involve them and say, hey, what are you trying to get out of this? What, what, what would make this valuable for you as well? But we also all have to approach this as how can I provide value to you? As opposed to what can I get from you? Because if you're just looking at what can I get from you? That's transactional. Adam Grant, a professor at the Wharton School in Philadelphia, he wrote a book, Give and Take. I think I've spoken about that one.

There are givers, matchers and takers. Givers are people who give without expecting anything directly back matchers are I'll give to you, but I expect you to give back. And takers are, I want to take from you. I don't want to give you anything. And the most and least successful people were the givers because the givers that knew when to stop giving because it could be to their detriment, they were the most successful. And the givers that didn't know when to stop giving were the least successful because they were giving and it was hurting themselves. They didn't know when to say, hey, I can't give at this point. I think we've probably all been on both sides of that at some some point.

And we also know matchers and we know takers. But when you approach one of these associations, if you're going to go to a networking meeting, whether it's one on one or one on many, what can I give value to this? Because then people are going to want to give value back to you. And I don't think that's a Gen Y, Gen Z, Gen X or Baby Boomer thing. I think that's just a human nature thing. So if you are trying to network with Gen Y and Gen Z, reach out with the open mindset that I'm not trying to get anything from you. How can I Help you? I had a zoom call yesterday with someone that I wish them Happy birthday on LinkedIn, which many of you get my happy birthdays on Facebook or LinkedIn. And they reached back out and said, hey, let's catch up. And something just said to me, yeah, let's do that.

Even though my time is valuable, your time is valuable. I didn't know what I was going to be getting out of this, if anything. And I said, sure, let's do it. And it turned out to be a great call where we were talking about different things and I was giving and giving and giving because that's just my nature. And. And then the person said, what can I do for you? I was like, oh, well, you know what? I think you're connected to these people, which I didn't know until I got on the call. If you ever come across somebody who needs my sales training, consulting, whatever, you know, please, you know, refer me. That's.

That's it. But I didn't go into this trying to get anything. And I think, you know, I've done the same thing with Gen Z and Gen Y and Gen X and baby boomers. I think you need to do the same. So is the art of networking lost on them? I don't think so. If you are a Gen Y or a Gen Z, the same approach, people, how can I help you? Because I'll bet you're good at something that that person who's been doing this a lot longer in the industry isn't good at, whether it's social media, whether it's a certain technology, whether it's trends or things like that, I'll bet that you're good at something that somebody else is not. And if you could help them, it could then come back to you in some way somehow, not directly necessarily. And if we, if we're trying not to be transactional with this, no matter what generation you are, I think you'll find that the more you give, the more you're going to get.

It may not be immediate, it may not be in kind, but it's really amazing how this works, how the world works with this. That'll come back to you. So is networking lost on them? No, it's not. Is it different? Yes. Might you have to meet them where they are? If you're a different generation and you're used to networking a certain way, maybe you might have to. So think about that and the next time that you have an opportunity to work with someone, including a new competitor. By the way, I did a presentation at Wedding MBA called Not Another Competitor, and about how, what can you learn from them? What can they learn from you? So just think about networking in terms of not making it transactional, making it relational. And I think you'll find that this is not a generational thing.

And let's not put labels on people because of the year that they were born in. And let's give people an opportunity to show who they really are, because we judge people really more by their actions than their words. And you can be a leader in that and show them that I'm willing to give. And then you'll find that you get great stuff back in return. Yeah, Just something to think about. Thanks.

I’m Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you’d like to suggest other topics for “The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast” please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or you can  text, use the short form on this page, or call +1.732.422.6362, international 001 732 422 6362. I look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks.

Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site:

©2024 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com


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Alan Berg, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow

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