Networking without forcing

notes from the IPMA World Congress, Berlin

September 17th to 19th was three days well spent at the IPMA World Congress and I set myself two simple aims: meet someone working on a hospital project and someone involved with AGVs (automated guided vehicles). I found both—without chasing. No speed-friending, no “spray and pray.” Just being there, lingering a little longer at coffee stands, following conversations where they wanted to go, and letting introductions happen.

The Taoist bit (flow over force)

Taoism calls this wu wei—doing by not overdoing. “In pursuing the Way, every day something is dropped… until non-action is achieved. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” The point isn’t laziness; it’s reducing friction so the right things connect themselves. In a crowded conference, follow the flow, aim for spaces that feel good for you, if you are relaxed, in your element and feel good that means you create conditions for encounters - lead with an easy first question, give genuine attention—then stop pushing.

A calm networking loop you can use today

Before: Set 2 beacons (mine: hospital + AGV). Go to spaces and situations that feel good—be attentive! Is everyone already talking? Is someone standing alone fiddling with the phone? Someone seeking contact with you? Take the environment in and then go with the flow.

During (one conversation at a time):

1. Open easy: “What problem brought you here this year?”

2. Reflect once: mirror a concrete detail (“So you’re piloting in the surgical wing?”).

3. Offer a small help: a paper, a contact, or a question that sharpens their thinking.

4. Name the thread: “If hospital ops comes up again, I’ll share what we learn on our side.”

5. Swap light details: name + one sentence of context; jot a note on your phone.
   After (same day or next): Send a one-paragraph follow-up with one helpful link or intro. No pitch unless invited.

Result: calm presence → serendipity.

Below we will look at the research evidence on why this works.