Future Performance Training
Networking the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting. Networking often begins with a single point of common ground.
Networking is used by professionals to expand their circles of acquaintances, to find out about job opportunities in their fields, and to increase their awareness of news and trends in their fields or in the greater world. (The term computer networking refers to linking multiple devices so that they can readily share information and software resources.)
The effectiveness and efficiency of an organisation, its innovation, productivity, and employee satisfaction all hinge on the strength of the relationships of its people.
When leaders understand the patterns of interaction among the people in their organisations, they can leverage this knowledge to:
1. Identify the thought leaders, key information brokers and bottlenecks
2. Target opportunities where increased knowledge flow will have the most impact
3. Employees in an organisation or group respond to a questionnaire containing questions like
4. How often do you receive information from each of the others in this group that you need to do to your work?
5. Accelerate the flow of knowledge and information across functional and organisational boundaries
6. How well do you understand the knowledge, skills, and experience of each of the other people in this group?
Network analysis can be an effective diagnostic and planning tool for the development of communities of practice. The data gathering and analysis processes provide a baseline against which you can plan and prioritise the appropriate changes and interventions to increase the social connections within the organisation - effectively building "social capital."
Assume that most people in an organisation share some values and reach out. Every contact you make now will be a contact you can use down the road. Make networking easy by making it a habit. Start slowly by reaching out to someone with whom you have contact but don't work with directly. Join a group of semi-strangers for coffee. Don't always hang out with pals.
Benefits of Networking :
Benefit | Achieved By |
Retention of people with vital corporate knowledge. | Increasing the social capital in the organization. People who are more connected are more likely to be satisfied with their work and more likely to stay. |
Increased innovation, productivity, and responsiveness. | Closing gaps in people’s knowledge of one another’s experience and expertise. Decreasing the amount of time it takes for people to locate and access needed knowledge. |
Smarter decisions about changing the formal organisation structure or introducing new processes into organisations. | Understanding the structure of the existing social networks. SNA gives insights into how work is really accomplished in an organization, how decisions are made, and the effectiveness of the existing organisational structures. |
Insight into the challenges of integration following restructuring, mergers, or acquisitions. | Identifying specific individuals or groups who are most likely to have the most influence across group borders and boundaries. It may be important to take special steps to retain people who are important to a network. |
Networking Opportunities
Internal Networking Opportunities:
Internal networking is building informal relationships between individuals within an organisation. The purpose of the relationships is for seeking help, advice and support. It is a way to increase the impact of each worker's duties in the organisation, as well as increasing resources for the individual. The more people that the worker is able to communicate with in the organisation; the more information they have access to; the more influence they have.
How can an individual get ideas heard?
To develop internal networks with the intention of getting your ideas heard, the people who have power and influence within the organisation need to be identified. Remember to choose the right time and place to express your ideas. In the process of putting across your ideas, you must be aware of not putting anyone down or offending anyone.
For example, if suggesting an idea you have for improving a production procedure, you must be careful that you are not suggesting that the person currently doing the job is not doing it well enough. The following is a list of points to consider:
• choose the right time and place to put across your idea
• give the idea time to mature
• find individuals who you can quietly discuss the idea with
• be accepting about the idea as other information becomes available
• think through all arguments for and against the idea
External Networking Opportunities:
External networking is developing informal relationships outside your organisation to help with work. These networks can be used for support, advice and help. Having the opportunity to talk to people in other related, or "feeder", industries, about issues you may have in common is also networking.
Although in many cases, opportunities to network with other people who work in your industry may be limited, it can pay to take advantage of opportunities that arise, but people must remember to be discreet. Loyalty to your own company is also highly respected. Networking should not be gossip sessions. You are there to discuss common issues and perhaps to work out solutions that may be of benefit to both parties. Examples of opportunities for external networking include:
• Attending trade fairs
• Attending industry award ceremonies
• Attending seminars and conferences
• Being a member of an industry group or association
• Talking to suppliers, clients and drivers / couriers
• Business tours to related industries
When finding yourself in a networking environment, issues can be discussed in general terms. However details related to your company and its products and services should not be discussed as that can be seen as indiscreet and could affect the way your colleagues see your loyalty.