Why Smart Leaders Resist Networking (And What to Do Instead)

"Echo, can you tell me why I’m so antisocial and scared of networking?"

That was the honest question a senior executive asked me during a recent coaching session.

We looked at her Mental Toughness profile. Surprisingly (or maybe not?), she scored high in Interpersonal Confidence and was in the top 18% for Confidence in Abilities.

So why the resistance to networking?

As we dug deeper to look at other factors of her profile, a quiet but powerful internal narrative surfaced:

“I’m smart. I’m usually right. Why waste time networking with people who don’t add value?”

That unconscious mindset had been running in the background - unnoticed. Once it came into the light, everything shifted.

Mental Toughness looks beneath the surface. It’s not just about behavior - it’s about how people think. Two people might both avoid networking, but for entirely different reasons.

For someone low in Interpersonal Confidence, a confidence-building workshop might help. But for this executive? A generic training would miss the mark.

That’s why so many interventions fail:

We skip the diagnosis and jump straight to a one-size-fits-all solution

Less than half of training programs truly work, simply because they don’t start with understanding the individual’s mindset.

📉 Up to 70% of corporate training programs fail to deliver measurable improvements.

Why? Because they often skip the most critical step: diagnosis.

- Generic content misses the mark for diverse mindsets
- Without reinforcement, 90% of training is forgotten within a week
- Lack of personalization leads to disengagement—only 29% of employees are satisfied with their current training

🧠 With MTQPlus, we don’t just explore mindset—we measure it, clearly and accurately. It helps us understand the “stranger within”—and realize it’s not a stranger at all, but a complex, fascinating part of ourselves.

With that awareness, we can break negative patterns, stop making excuses, and gain better control of what we do and what happens to us.

📣 Curious about your own Mental Toughness profile? Interested in becoming a certified practitioner?

let’s connect.

#MentalToughness #MTQPlus #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachTraining #SelfAwareness #Resilience #HighPerformance #EchoLeadership #SingaporeCoaches #CertificationWorkshop #MindsetMatters #DiagnosisBeforeIntervention

About Echo Wu

I'm Echo Wu, a leadership and mental toughness coach based in Singapore. After years in corporate HR and executive development across Asia Pacific, I now work with executives, entrepreneurs and their teams elevate performance, navigate change, and achieve their goals with resilience and positivity.

I believe that clarity isn’t found in the hustle—it’s cultivated through reflection, courage, and intentional growth. As a certified free diver and yoga instructor, I bring breathwork and free diving breathing techniques into my practices. These tools aren’t just calming—they reconnect you with your inner compass.

Whether you're building something bold, navigating uncertainty, or simply craving space to think differently, I’d love to hear from you.

More at ECHOleadershipgroup.com