I used to think networking was just for extroverts, salespeople, or people trying to land their next job. Then I learned that real networking—the kind that builds trust, opens doors, and helps people stay and grow in their careers—is just consistent, human connection.

That realization shaped everything I do now.

Today, I split my time between two worlds:

At Retention and Rewards Partners, I work with HR leaders to solve complex problems around compensation, benefits, and employee retention. I’ve led total rewards teams through M&A deals, culture transformations, open enrollments, and board-level pay strategy. But underneath all the spreadsheets and systems is one simple goal: build workplaces where people want to stay.

And as the founder of The Introverted Networker, I teach professionals how to build strong relationships—without small talk, events, or pretending to be someone they’re not. I write a weekly newsletter, lead corporate workshops, and coach people on how to connect with others in a way that feels real and doable.

My work might look different depending on the day, but it’s all connected by one belief: when people feel seen, supported, and fairly treated, they stay. And when they build trusted relationships at work, they thrive.

If you care about building workplaces where people stay and succeed—or you’re trying to grow your network in a way that actually feels good—I’d love to connect.


Here are other ways I can help you:

⇨ Sign up for my newsletter, "The Introverted Networker," to get tips to improve your networking.

⇨ Get my FREE course, "5 Steps To Grow Your Professional Network," to get the exact networking blueprint I follow every week to grow my own network.

⇨ Follow me to learn how to find new connections without going to networking events

⇨ Download my guide "15 Minute Networking"

⇨ Get my book "The Fast and Easy Guide To Networking For Introverts"

All the links for these resources are in my Featured section above!

The best way to contact me is via email: greg@gregsroche.com

Greg Roche

Most networking advice is 20 years out of date.
Here’s what actually works now.
 
Most of what we were taught doesn’t fit how networking actually happens.
 
Here are a few ideas worth letting go of (and what to do instead):
 
• “𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄.”
That’s incomplete. What matters is who knows 𝘺𝘰𝘶 and why they trust you.
 
• “𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆.”
Most real connections don’t start with speeches.
They start with curiosity and listening.
 
• “𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.”
That’s pressure no one needs.
Networking works better when it’s about helping, not pitching.
 
• “𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.”
Hundreds of people on your contact list rarely beat a handful of real relationships..
 
• “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯.”
That’s like watering a plant only when it’s dying.
 
• “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.”
You need follow-through, not cardstock.
 
• “𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆.”
Some of the best ideas and opportunities come from outside your bubble.
 
• “𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.”
Most meaningful connections happen one conversation at a time, not in crowded rooms.
 
Networking isn’t a formula.
 
It’s a long game built on trust, relevance, and consistency.
 
If networking feels awkward, it’s often because you were taught the wrong rules.

If you want to learn the new rules of networking,

Do one of these:
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter-click link on top of the post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

I'll teach you to be a more confident networker, whether you're an introvert, extrovert, or something in between.

I teach professionals to connect and build trust. Founder Retention and Rewards Partners. Solving retention and total rewards challenges for HR leaders who need results, not more noise. Aka: The Introverted Networker.

This past weekend, I traded winter coats in Colorado for sun in Arizona.
 
I’ll be spending the winter in the Phoenix area.
 
It’s a new experience.
A new rhythm.

Part of the next phase of life for me and my family.
 
I’m excited about it.
And, if I’m honest, a little nervous.
 
That feeling is familiar.
 
Because when I look back on my career, the same pattern shows up again and again.
 
I didn’t follow a straight line.
 
I thought I was headed one way.
Something unexpected showed up.
I took a turn.
 
Teaching became consulting.
Consulting became something else.
Sales didn’t last.
HR did.

That role grew.
Then it ended.
 
I’ve had long stretches and short ones.
Promotions and layoffs.
W2 jobs and my own business.
 
On paper, it can look messy.
 
At times, even reckless.
 
But here’s what wandering gave me.
 
Perspective.
Context.
Range.
 
Every role taught me something I couldn’t have learned by staying put.
 
Looking back, it might seem like I didn’t have a plan.
 
But I was never lost.
 
I kept moving.
Paying attention.
Saying yes when something worth exploring showed up.
 
Opportunities rarely come looking for you.
 They sit just off the path.
 
You usually find them when you’re willing to wander a little.
 
If you’re standing at a fork right now, unsure of the next step, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
 
It might mean you’re exactly where growth starts.

Have a great week!


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

The biggest career lesson I learned didn’t come from a win.
It came from a layoff.

For a long time, I believed something that felt reasonable:
 
If you work hard,
If you do good work,
If you stay loyal,
 
You'll be fine.
 
I wasn’t careless.
I wasn’t checked out.
I wasn’t underperforming.
 
I had years of strong reviews.
I had momentum.
I had credibility.
 
So I assumed stability was earned.
 
Then one meeting changed everything.
 
My boss walked into my office and my role was eliminated.
 
Not because of something I did.
Not because I failed.
Because the business shifted.
 
That was the moment I learned a quiet lesson most people never get until it’s too late:
 
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁.
 
And when it does, the question isn't how good you were at your last role.
 
The question is who knows you now.
 
At the time, my answer was uncomfortable.
 
I'd focused so much on doing the work that I hadn’t invested in relationships outside my immediate circle.
 
No regular check-ins.
No light touchpoints.
No habit of staying connected.
 
I thought networking was something you did when you needed something.

Turns out it works best when you don’t.
 
Your network is not just a job search tool.
It' your Career Insurance Policy.

Like most insurance policies, it's:

Quiet.
Boring.
Incredibly effective.
 
You build it while things are calm so it’s there when things are not.
 
If you have a job right now, this is not a warning.
 
It’s an opportunity.
 
Create your Career Insurance Policy one conversation at a time.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If don't have Career Insurance, but know you need it,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these helps me help you create your Career Insurance Policy

Most people network the wrong way.
Here’s what actually works.

The standard networking advice tells you to do more.
 
Meet more people.
Go to more events.
Collect more contacts.
 
That’s usually the wrong move.
 
Networking works better when you slow it down.
 
One person.
One conversation.
One relationship at a time.
 
You don’t need to start with strangers in a crowded room.
 
Start with people you already know.
 
Reach back out.
Ask what they’re working on.
Share what you’re focused on right now.
 
Then do the part most people skip.
 
Ask who else you should know.
Ask for an introduction.
 
That’s how networks actually grow.
Not by casting a wide net.
But by building outward, intentionally.
 
It sounds slower on paper.
 
In practice, it’s more efficient and a lot more human.
 
Try it once this week.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

One warm intro > 10 cold DMs. 
Every time.

Most networking advice focuses on doing more:.

• Go to more events.
• Meet more people.
• Cast a wider net.

That's usually the wrong place to start.

Networks don't grow from volume.
They grow from the next person you meet..

One person.
Then the next person.
Then the person after that.

Not starting with strangers.
But, with people you already know.

Reach out.
Have a real conversation.
Ask what they're working on.
Share what you're focused on right now.

Then do the part that actually expands your network.

Ask who else you should know.
Ask for an introduction.

That single step does more than ten cold conversations ever will.

Yes, it feels slower.
It's not.

It's quieter.
More efficient.
And easier to sustain when you're busy.

If networking feels overwhelming, try this instead.

One person this week.
That's enough to start.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Your most valuable connections aren’t strangers.
They’re people you already know.

Every January, I see the same thing happen.
 
Smart, capable people feel pressure to have a networking plan.
 
New goals.
New contacts.
New conversations they are supposed to start.
 
For a lot of introverted professionals, that pressure is exactly what makes them stop.
 
The idea of building a brand-new network from scratch feels exhausting.

Too many unknowns.
Too much energy.
Too much noise.
 
Here's what I'll tell you:
 
You do not need a new network.
You already have one.
 
It is made up of people from earlier chapters of your life.

Former teammates.
Classmates.
Managers.
Clients.

Most of us forget about them.
 
These are called dormant ties.

Not because the relationship is gone, but because it's been inactive for a while.
 
Reconnecting with dormant ties is easier than meeting someone new.

There's already context.
There's already trust.
You're not starting from zero.
 
One practical shift that helps.
 
When you use LinkedIn, don't just look for people who are still at companies you worked for.
 
Search for people who used to work there and have moved on.
 
Former coworkers who now have new roles and new experiences often make for the best conversations.

They know where you came from and can speak honestly about what they have learned since.
 
The outreach doesn't need to be complicated.
 
A simple hello is enough.
 
No ask.
No pitch.
No agenda.
 
Just a genuine check-in.
 
If this sounds like a better way to start networking this year, I go much deeper into how to do this calmly and consistently in this week’s Introverted Networker.
 
The full breakdown is there if you want it.

https://lnkd.in/gqzKQVCj


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to join the mission to change the way the world feels about networking,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter-click link in the post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Open article: How to Restart Your Networking Without Starting Over by theintrovertednetworker.substack.com

How to Restart Your Networking Without Starting Over

LinkedIn feels like a lot for a reason.
You open it with good intentions.
Five minutes later, you’re tired.

Everyone’s posting.
Some are selling.
Some are performing.
Some are just loud.
 
So you scroll.
Close the app.
Tell yourself you’ll come back later.
 
If that’s you, you’re not doing it wrong.
 
Stop treating it like a stage.
Use it like a directory.
 
LinkedIn isn’t where relationships are built.

It’s where you find the next person to have the conversation with.
 
Connections lead to conversations.
Conversations lead to professional relationships.
 
That’s it.
 
When you stop trying to impress and start trying to locate, everything gets quieter.
 
One practical way to try this.
 
Pick one focus for the week.
Just one.
 
Not “use LinkedIn better.”
Something smaller.
 
Reconnect with former coworkers.
Learn about one company.
Meet a few people in a role you’re curious about.
 
Then look for people you already know, or are one step away from knowing.
 
Start there.
 
If you see a first-degree connection, send a simple note.
“Hey, it’s been a while. How are things going?”
 
No pitch.
No ask.
Just reopening the door.
 
If it’s a second-degree connection, add a short note when you connect.

Say why you reached out.
Ask one small question.
Give them an easy out.
 
That’s enough to start.
 
Most people avoid LinkedIn because they think they need to do everything at once.
 
You don’t.
 
One focus.
One conversation.
One small step at a time.
 
I wrote more about this, plus a simple weekly LinkedIn plan, in this week’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳.

If LinkedIn feels noisy to you, the full issue goes deeper:
https://lnkd.in/g5a3YTjW

Networking feels hard, even when the steps are simple.
Here’s why that’s normal.

Last week, after a webinar, someone asked me a fair question.
 
“Is networking really as easy as the steps you laid out?”
 
I’ve been thinking about that all week.
 
Because this is where a lot of smart, capable people get stuck.
 
𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆.
 
The approach I teach is simple on purpose.

Clear steps.
Fewer decisions.
Less noise.
 
But simple doesn't remove the human part.
 
Reaching out still feels a little vulnerable.
Waiting for a reply still creates tension.

Some conversations stall.
Some go quiet.
 
That doesn't mean you did it wrong.
It means you're dealing with real people.
 
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀:
 
Stop asking, “Did this lead to something?”
Start asking, “Did I do the reps?”
 
Networking works more like strength training.
One workout rarely changes anything.
Consistency does.
 
A quiet way to measure progress looks like this:
 
One conversation this week.
One small act of generosity.
One follow up.
 
That counts, even if nothing obvious happens yet.
 
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀:
 
• Pick one person you already know.
• Send a short note.
• Ask for 15 minutes to catch up.
• No pitch.
• No agenda.
 
When it’s over, write down one thing you learned.
 
That’s progress.
 
I wrote more about this idea in this week’s Introverted Networker.

If this problem sounds familiar, the full issue goes deeper: https://lnkd.in/gZyvkqqa

Your likes aren’t building trust.
Your ears are.

It’s easy to feel like you’re connecting when you engage with a post.

But a comment is just a digital handshake.

It’s the start of a conversation, not the end of one.

Real trust happens when you move the chat offline.

Get on a call or a video meeting.

Once you’re there, practice the rarest skill in leadership.

Listen.

In "The Speed of Trust," Stephen M.R. Covey points out that listening is the foundation of every strong bond.

It’s also the behavior people practice the least.

Most of us are so busy planning what to say next that we don't actually hear what’s being said.

If you want to build a real relationship this week, stop pitching.

Just be the person who actually listens.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most people fail at networking for one simple reason:
Bad timing.
 
A lot of people start networking only when they need something.

A job lead.
An intro.
A favor. 

That puts you in a tough spot.
 
Because now every conversation carries weight.
Every message feels loaded.
Every ask feels risky.
 
Here's a calmer way to think about it.
 
Your network is built long before you need it.
 
The value comes from the small, unremarkable moments.

Listening.
Sharing something useful. 
Making an introduction with no expectation attached.
 
None of that feels urgent.
That's the point.
 
When you stay in touch without an agenda, you build trust without realizing it.

You create context.
You become familiar in a good way.
 
When you eventually do need help, the conversation feels different.

It doesn't feel like taking.

It feels like continuing something that already exists.
 
That's why some people seem “good at networking” without trying.

They're not better at asking.

They're better at staying connected when nothing is on the line.
 
If networking feels uncomfortable for you, try this shift:
 
Stop thinking about what you might need later.

Focus on who you can help now.
 
One short conversation.
One helpful moment.
One follow up.
 
That is usually enough to change the math over time.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most networking advice breaks down when you get busy.
It assumes you can:

Scale it.
Batch it.
Automate it.
 
But, networking doesn’t scale.
And it never did.
 
The reason it feels exhausting for smart, capable people is because they’re trying to treat it like a system instead of a relationship.
 
More tools.
More reach.
More volume.
 
That approach feels efficient.
But, it isn’t effective.
 
Real networks grow the opposite way.
 
Slow.
Personal.
A little inconvenient.
 
One person at a time.
 
You don’t need to “work your network.”
You need to pay attention to one person.
 
Someone you already know or almost know.
Someone you’re genuinely curious about.
Someone you can have a real conversation with.
 
That means sending a message you actually wrote.
Asking questions you care about.
Listening without waiting for your turn to talk.
 
It means offering help without attaching a hook.
And being clear when someone asks how they can help you.
 
None of this is flashy.
None of it looks impressive on the surface.
 
It also can’t be outsourced.
And it doesn’t respond well to shortcuts.
 
Here’s the truth:
 
This way feels slower at first.
Then momentum shows up.
Then it starts compounding.
 
Not because you optimized it.
But because people trust you.
 
If networking feels hard right now, try shrinking the goal.
 
Not more people.
Not better tactics.
 
Just one conversation this week.

Done with care.
Done without rushing.
 
That’s how it actually works.
And it’s enough to get started.

======================================

I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most people get networking backwards.


They fixate on the outcome.
 
The job.
The client.
The big opportunity.
 
That’s understandable.
It’s also where they get stuck.
 
Because networking doesn’t move in straight lines.
It moves in small, boring steps that don’t look impressive in the moment.
 
One conversation.
One follow-up.
One introduction you didn’t expect to matter.
 
You usually can’t see where any single connection will lead.
And that’s the point.
 
If you only focus on the destination, it feels vague and frustrating.
If you focus on what’s right in front of you, it gets simpler.
 
Who can I talk to this week?
Who do I already know that I’ve lost touch with?
What’s one honest conversation I can have?
 
Do that.
Then do it again.
 
You don’t need the full map.
You just need to keep moving forward.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

The best networkers today?
They’re not the loudest in the room.

Most networking advice still assumes one thing.
 
The people who win are the loudest ones.
 
The ones who always seem “on.”
The ones who work the room.
The ones who talk fast.
 
I don’t think that’s true anymore.
 
In fact, I think the skills that matter most right now look a lot more introverted.
 
Pay attention to what actually builds trust today.
 
It’s not volume.
It’s not charisma.
It’s not having the perfect pitch.
 
It’s presence.
 
People are tired of being talked at.
They’re tired of surface level conversations.
They’re tired of feeling like a transaction.
 
The people who stand out now are the ones who slow things down.
 
They ask a real question.
They listen long enough to understand the answer.
They remember what someone said last time and follow up on it.
 
That’s not flashy.
It doesn’t look impressive in the moment.

But it sticks.
 
Especially in a world where so much communication is rushed, shortened, or automated.
 
When you actually pay attention, you create contrast.
When you listen, people feel seen.
When you’re thoughtful, people trust you faster.
 
That’s not surviving in networking.
That’s leading it.
 
You don’t need to be louder.
You don’t need to be more aggressive.
You don’t need to turn yourself into someone you’re not.
 
You need to do what introverts already do well and do it on purpose.
 
One conversation.
One person.
One real exchange at a time.
 
That’s more than enough to move things forward.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

My mission is to change the way people feel about networking.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Building profitable and loved brands

Strategic and hands-on Marketing Leader with over 13 years of global experience across SaaS, mobile apps and digital platforms in B2B and B2C environments. 

Proven track record in product marketing, brand positioning, and demand generation with a strong focus on customer-centric storytelling, go-to-market execution, and cross-functional alignment. 

Adept at scaling user acquisition, leading product launches, and enabling sales teams across EMEA, LATAM, and North America. 

Thrive in remote-first, high-growth companies, bringing a mix of data-driven insights and creative strategy to drive revenue and retention.

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The Battle

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