I recently read Professor Adam Grant's op-ed in The New York Times, titled “Networking is Overrated.” With one eye on the article and the other rolling metaphorically, I couldn't agree more with his core idea: it's not who you know, it's what you do. He highlights success stories like Justin Bieber and Adele, whose talents went viral on social media, and SPANX founder Sara Blakely, whose product soared after Oprah Winfrey named it a favorite thing of the year. As Grant argues, paraphrasing Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.”
I'd love to live in a world where talent alone guarantees success. But reality tells a different story—for all of us.
Related: 4 Secrets of Incredibly Successful People
Networking is not overrated. When done strategically, it's one of the most powerful tools for professional advancement, especially for women, where excellence often isn't enough.
A 2016 Lean In–McKinsey & Company study, Women in the Workplace, reveals stark disparities: Women are less likely to land that crucial first managerial promotion, derailing their leadership trajectories and senior hires. The report attributes this to limited access to influential people, resources, and opportunities. Women network less effectively than men.
Both genders view senior leader support as vital to success, yet women report fewer interactions with executives and are less likely to credit a senior manager for their promotions.
This gap stems from network composition: Women are three times more likely to rely on female-dominated networks. With men holding most senior roles, women miss out on key door-openers.
Related: The Habits of 12 Highly Successful Women
Former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz nails it: “Women spend more time doing and less time networking.” Goldman Sachs' Alison Mass advises dedicating 10-20% of work time to networking. From my experience, tailor your approach: Call instead of email, comment thoughtfully on LinkedIn posts, or attend mixers—even for just 30 minutes.
Quality trumps quantity: I prefer three meaningful conversations over 30 superficial card swaps. A real connection starts with identifying one genuine way to help the other person.
The data is compelling: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 70% of jobs and promotions come through networking. Employers fill most roles via the “hidden job market”—internal moves, referrals from colleagues, friends, and staff. To compete, you must be in the mix.
Professor Grant acknowledges networking's value, suggesting a balanced view: Success isn't just what or who you know—it's who knows what you know. Those who strategically share their achievements thrive.
Related: 8 Proven Networking Strategies of Successful Entrepreneurs
