What is values-first net/working and why does it matter?
Move beyond resume swapping and elevator pitches to build professional relationships that actually last
Picture this: You're at a networking event, and instead of the usual "What do you do?" small talk, someone asks you "What kind of work makes you feel most alive?" or "What values drive your career decisions?"
That's the difference between traditional networking and values-first net/working - a term we use because it's not just about making connections, but about how you actually work and collaborate with others once those connections are made.
Values-first net/working addresses both sides of professional relationships: how you network to find opportunities AND how you work together once you're connected. It's changing how professionals build meaningful career relationships and create sustainable collaborations.
The problem with traditional networking
Traditional networking treats professional relationships like a transaction. You promote yourself, exchange business cards, and hope something sticks. It's exhausting, often ineffective, and leaves many talented people feeling invisible.
Here's what typically happens:
You spend hours crafting the perfect elevator pitch
You attend events where everyone talks but nobody really listens
You collect contacts but struggle to build genuine relationships
Opportunities go to whoever has the best connections, not necessarily the best fit
You feel like you're constantly "selling yourself" instead of finding authentic collaboration
This approach wastes time and energy while missing what actually makes professional relationships work: genuine compatibility for both networking AND working together.
What values-first net/working looks like
Instead of starting with credentials and accomplishments, you begin with what truly matters to both people - both for making connections and for successful collaboration.
The "networking" part focuses on:
What gives your work meaning (whether that's helping others, solving complex problems, building community, or creating economic value)
What kind of opportunities align with your values and life goals
How you prefer to build professional relationships
What impact you want to create in the world
The "working" part focuses on:
How you prefer to collaborate and communicate
What kind of work environment helps you thrive
What you need to maintain sustainable productivity and wellbeing
How you handle stress, make decisions, and approach problem-solving
What working styles complement yours for successful partnerships
Then compatibility happens naturally: When you connect with someone who shares your core values AND has compatible working styles, you don't need to "sell" yourself. The relationship builds organically because you're genuinely aligned on what matters most and how you work best together.
Why this approach works better
For finding meaningful work: When opportunities come through values-aligned connections, you're more likely to find roles where you'll thrive long-term. Your network actively looks for opportunities that match not just your skills, but your values and work-life needs.
For successful collaboration: Understanding working style compatibility upfront means better partnerships, fewer conflicts, and more productive collaborations. You know how to communicate effectively and work together sustainably.
For building lasting relationships: Professional relationships based on shared values and compatible working styles tend to be more supportive, collaborative, and enduring. They evolve beyond immediate transactions into ongoing mutual support.
For reducing bias: By focusing on values and compatibility first, this approach reduces the impact of unconscious bias based on background, appearance, or network connections. Talent gets recognized based on genuine fit rather than surface-level factors.
For sustainable success: Work relationships that honor your whole self - not just your professional persona - create less burnout and more authentic success. You can be yourself while building your career and collaborating effectively.
How values-first net/working works in practice
Define what matters to you first Before networking, get clear on your core values, preferred working styles, and what makes work meaningful for you.
Look for alignment, not just opportunity When meeting new people, explore shared values and compatible approaches to both networking and actual work collaboration.
Build relationships, not just contacts Focus on creating genuine connections with people whose values and working styles complement yours for both networking and working together.
Let opportunities find you When your network understands what you value and how you work best, they can naturally connect you with aligned opportunities and compatible collaborators.
Support others' success too As you stabilize in your career, help others in your network find opportunities that match their values and working styles.
The bigger picture
Values-first net/working isn't just about finding better job opportunities. It's about creating professional communities where people support each other's authentic success rather than competing for surface-level advantages.
When professionals connect based on genuine alignment rather than transactional needs, we create:
Stronger, more diverse professional communities
Work opportunities that honor people's whole lives, not just their skills
Support networks that help everyone thrive sustainably
Better collaborations based on compatible working styles
Economic systems that value compatibility and collaboration over competition
Ready to experience values-first net/working?
At DayBalancer, we've built our entire platform around values-first net/working. Instead of requiring you to constantly promote yourself, compatible opportunities find you through anonymous compatibility matching that considers both networking alignment and working compatibility.
Here's how it works:
Define what meaningful work looks like for you and how you work best
Get matched with opportunities, collaborators, and mentors based on values alignment and working style compatibility
Build professional relationships that support your whole-person success
Join a circular talent network where everyone both gives and receives support
Because the best professional relationships aren't built on what you can do for each other right now - they're built on who you are, what you care about, and how you work best together.
Ready to let compatible opportunities find you? Create your free profile and experience net/working that actually works.
DayBalancer helps professionals thrive through better net/working and meaningful work connections. Join hundreds of others who've discovered what happens when values come first.
