TIN #133 - Networking Can Feel Like a Waiting Game…Here’s How to Win
How to Keep Networking When No One Responds
I want to talk about something that comes up all the time in networking—waiting.
We live in a world of instant responses.
We send a message, a DM, an email, and we expect a reply… fast.
And when we don’t get one, we start overthinking.
Why aren’t they responding?
Are they ignoring me?
Did they see it?
But here’s the thing: everyone is on a different timeline than you.
And understanding that can change the way you approach networking and communication.
To illustrate the point, let’s start with a wedding story.
This issue takes about 4 minutes to read…
Before We Get Started:
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The Wedding Invitation Dilemma
Recently, my wife and I were talking about an upcoming family wedding.
One of her nephews wanted to bring a guest, so he messaged the nephew who was getting married to ask if that was okay.
A couple of days passed, and there was no response.
My wife was puzzled:
“Why hasn’t he answered yet? It’s a simple yes or no!”
But here’s the thing—the nephew planning the wedding has a full-time job, a wedding to coordinate, and a million other things on his plate.
Meanwhile, the nephew who sent the message?
His top priority was getting an answer.
One wasn’t ignoring the other.
Their timelines were completely different.
But, we were reading into the delay, when there wasn’t anything to read into.
This is exactly what happens in networking when someone doesn’t respond to you.
People Aren’t Ignoring You—They’re Just Busy
I’ve had people reply to my messages months later, apologizing for the delay.
Not because they weren’t interested, but because they had other priorities at the time.
And you know what?
I’ve done the same thing with my own responses.
When we send a networking message, it feels like the most important thing to us in that moment.
But to the person on the receiving end, it’s just one of many things on their to-do list.
They might be:
✅ In the middle of a major project
✅ Handling a personal situation
✅ Searching for a new job
✅ Overwhelmed with day-to-day work
Whatever the reason, it’s not about you.
So instead of overanalyzing or assuming the worst, here’s what you can do:
Move Forward While You’re Waiting
You can’t control when someone replies, but you can control your actions.
Here’s how to keep making progress while waiting on responses:
💡 Follow up – If it’s been a couple of weeks, send a short, friendly check-in message. Something like:
"Hey [Name], just wanted to follow up on my last message. I’d love to connect whenever you have time—let me know what works for you!"
💡 Engage with their content – If they post on LinkedIn, leave a thoughtful comment. This keeps you on their radar in a non-intrusive way.
💡 Work your existing network – Look for old colleagues, former classmates, or industry connections you haven’t talked to in a while.
💡 Stay proactive – Networking isn’t a one-and-done activity. Keep sending messages, starting conversations, and making connections.
All of these are within your control and will keep up your networking momentum while you wait for others to respond to your messages.
The Bottom Line
Networking is about building relationships over time, not getting instant results.
If someone hasn’t responded yet, it’s probably not because they don’t want to talk to you.
They’re just on a different timeline.
So don’t take it personally.
Keep making connections, control what you can, and when the response finally comes—make the most of it.
What’s your experience with waiting for responses in networking?
Have you ever had someone reply months later?
Hit “Reply” and let me know!