Why Does It Feel so Fake? Overcoming Authenticity Challenges in Professional Networking

From finding ideas and opportunities to landing new jobs or getting promoted, so much depends on “who you know.” Despite these benefits, many people struggle with the act and the idea of networking. Much of the angst around networking can be traced to concerns about authenticity, including the need to be authentic, to be seen as authentic, to find authentic partners, and to build authentic relationships. In this paper, we review the literature on networking and authenticity to consider how different individuals might experience authenticity challenges in different forms of networking. We then describe three strategies for overcoming concerns about authenticity—ignore it, embrace it, and transcend it—and discuss the key merits and limitations of each approach. We advocate for transcending authenticity through cognitive reappraisals, which entails shifting the focus from the self to others by adopting a growth mindset. We conclude with future directions for promoting authenticity in networking.