Reframing Networking: From Transaction to Connection with Michelle Schafer

Speaking With Confidence

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What if the key to your next career move isn’t on a job board, but in a conversation you haven’t had yet?

In this episode of Speaking With Confidence, I sit down with career coach and author Michelle Schafer to explore how powerful communication, genuine curiosity, and intentional relationship-building can unlock career growth. Whether you're navigating a job search, considering a transition, or mentoring young professionals, this conversation will shift how you think about networking.

Michelle opens up about her own career journey—leaving behind 18 years in financial services and finding her most fulfilling role not through applications, but through a bold conversation she almost didn’t have. Her story speaks to anyone who’s ever let imposter syndrome hold them back from reaching out.

We dive deep into the mindset behind effective communication and what it means to approach conversations with confidence and purpose. This isn’t about “selling yourself”—it’s about creating meaningful interactions built on curiosity, follow-up, and being genuinely interested in others. From preparing for a networking event to turning everyday chats into career opportunities, Michelle offers strategies that turn soft skills into superpowers.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Reframe networking as connection, not a transaction
• Communicate effectively by asking better questions
• Turn conversations into career breakthroughs
• Overcome limiting beliefs that block outreach
• Build confidence through preparation and follow-up
• Tap into the “hidden job market” where 80% of opportunities live
• Embrace interpersonal skills as key tools for professional development

If you're ready to ditch the script, speak with confidence, and build relationships that move your career forward this episode is for you.

Download a free chapter of Michelle’s book, Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with a Purpose at mschafercoaching.ca

For more episodes that help you become a powerful communicator, visit timnewmanspeaks.com and explore tools and free resources to level up your communication skills.

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Chapters

1. Reframing Networking: From Transaction to Connection with Michelle Schafer (00:00:00)

2. Welcome to Speaking with Confidence (00:01:08)

3. Weathering Unexpected Challenges (00:02:01)

4. The Power of Meaningful Conversations (00:05:05)

5. Networking Reframed: It's Just Conversation (00:14:20)

6. Making It About Others, Not Yourself (00:20:25)

7. Career Transitions and Job Search Strategies (00:28:07)

8. Getting Past Limiting Beliefs (00:39:07)

9. Cultivating Career Growth Book Release (00:46:57)