How to Gracefully Decline a Networking Request

When you’re new to the workforce, you may feel pressure to engage every possible connection. However, continuously giving your time, energy, and focus to the wrong people can add up and take away from more meaningful work. There are times when it’s to your benefit to respectfully decline a networking invitation. Here are a few red flags to look out for when deciding whether to accept a networking request: the person is primarily interested in selling you a product or service rather than building a genuine professional relationship; the request is from someone with a questionable reputation and involves activities that could compromise your integrity; the person is asking you to help them before you know them; you have previously interacted with the person and had a negative experience.

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  Loren Margolis is an executive coach, facilitator and the founder of TLS Leaders, a global leadership development firm. Loren teaches executive presence and career strategies for the women leaders in STEM Program at the State University of New York. Prior, she taught management communication and coached leaders at Columbia Business School and led leadership development for clinical and business leaders at NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.