Thriving in the Digital Age of Networking
- Julia Palmer
- Apr 29
- 3 min read
Spending time working in the US recently has been a strong reminder: genuine relationships are still the greatest driver of success — in business and in life. No matter where you are in the world or what industry you're in, people are at the heart of every opportunity. Being relational will always open more doors than being transactional, but it takes effort, care, and a clear strategy to do it well.
Our theme for April, The Digital Age of Networking, couldn’t have been timelier. Today, technology has made it easier than ever to connect, but building meaningful, lasting relationships still takes intention. It’s not just about who you know; it’s how you connect that matters.
At Relatus, we believe real networking isn’t a numbers game. It’s not about how many LinkedIn connections you have or how many business cards you collect. True networking is a skill — one that blends digital tools with human understanding to create real, mutual value.
One thing that’s clear is that relationships need to be nurtured both online and offline. A strong digital presence allows you to stay visible and engaged, but the depth of the relationship still comes down to empathy, consistency, and genuine interaction. Research backs this up: with 85% of jobs being filled through networking, not job boards, and nearly half of leaders today say their most valuable relationships began online and deepened offline.
Yet too often, professionals treat networking as a side hustle rather than a critical part of their career strategy. For the last two decades, my focus has been on teaching people to shift from transactional to relational networking. It’s not about what you can get; it’s about what you can give, and how you can help others succeed.
This month, we shared simple but powerful tips to thrive in today’s interconnected world: show up with purpose, prioritise depth overreach, practise networking consistently, and lead every conversation with curiosity and kindness. It's easy to get caught up chasing likes or collecting contacts, but the people who make the biggest impact are the ones who genuinely care about others.
A great example of this are the results we derived when developing the human capabilities of the Principals at a leading engineering company. They had all the technical expertise they needed, but their teams weren’t unlocking their full potential because they were missing the skills for real, lasting client connections. Through a tailored relationship networking program, they learned to communicate with empathy, listen with intent, and most importantly, build two-way relationships — and within just three months, they saw a 15% increase in business and a flow of new referrals. No gimmicks. Just human connection done well.
That’s the real power of networking today. Digital platforms can open doors, but it’s how you show up that decides what happens next. The best networks aren’t built overnight — they are built through small, consistent actions, online and offline, that add value and build trust over time.
As we wrapped up the month (and enjoyed a few cheeky Easter eggs or two), it was a good reminder that both personal and professional relationships need time, presence, and care. Whether it’s through a message, a call, a comment on a post, or a face-to-face catch-up, every interaction is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds that move us all forward.
In this digital age, it’s easy to be visible — but much harder to be remembered for the right reasons. Let’s keep focusing on real relationships, real conversations, and real impact.
Because no one builds anything meaningful alone.
Julia
Julia Palmer a respected Relational Strategist and Chief Executive of Relatus, helping you develop your relational capabilities to give you the human advantage.
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