Some people like to network and others loath it. It can be your best referral source if you take the time to network and build your relationships. Your goal should be to build relationships with those who can become valuable contacts and you to them.
The important thing to remember is your goals for networking.
- Are you involved in groups that will help you get what you are looking for?
- Have you visited other groups to make sure you are involved in the right ones?
Some groups like to focus on learning new skills or helping the community more than just making business contacts. Those add variety and allow you to network with a larger range of professions. Many groups will let you visit a couple of times before you join. Visit all the groups that interest you. See if they would be a good fit, if people are supportive of sharing ideas and if you like the overall content at the groups. With just keeping your goals in mind, you can have some very successful networking groups.