Networking skills: The art and science of human
connect
“You are joking, aren’t you? Coach, do you think I have
time for this? And honestly, I am not in sales so why would I network?” Rakesh Gupta
has just taken up as the chief financial officer of an owner-driven, Rs
100-crore manufacturing organization. This knee-jerk reaction was the result of
y suggestion to bond and network with internal team and vendors as well. It is
a common notion to think that networking is just for a few job domains. Instead
Social Innovation Center’s project research done on a select group of 30
managers says that most people think networking as either waste of time or
manipulating people in a flattering and attractive way.
Both are
myths.
Even University of Missouri had an interesting find to share. A study of 418
managers and professionals was conducted to examine the relationship of
personal and job characteristics to their involvement in networking. The core
factors creating a significant impact on an individual’s skill to network
across a social or business settings included, gender, social and economic
background, the hierarchy of the organisation, the position held and upbringing
background.
Well, managers mostly rise from ranks and they remain
submerged nose deep in the technical aspects of work and meeting their
functional objectives. It feels like a threat to move beyond core capabilities
and face people on a strategic bonding level.
It is easier than it sounds. These steps will ensure
networking with an ease.
The reason behind that coffee:
It is crucial to set an objective on the network you are
getting into. Internal networking between departments and cross-functional
teams too require focused objectives. Else soon one could be termed as a “time
waster.”
The University of PEI found out that an astonishing 67%
people quickly forget that cross-functional networking should not sound like
gossip parties. That does more harm than good.
Everyone is a natural networker:
Though humans are born people oriented, gender and
upbringing can be building or breaking blocks of one’s natural networking
skills. If you belong to a small village, networking is an innate skill as
everyone is looked up as a family.
Big city bugs know how to make friends in metro and
elevators. It is about creating a possibility. Do not be fixated on first
impressions of anyone. People evolve and change with time.
So, carrying fixed mindset will be a hindrance in
creating new bonds.
Relationships are not spontaneous:
Psychology Today published that 59% of people sabotage
their networking skills because the thought says that if you just like a
person, you hit off well else it is not going to work.
Networking in business or jobs is based on peer-to-peer learning.
It is important to have people who do not match your ideas and thought process.
Networks necessarily may not be of people who trust each
other and create an immense value for each stakeholder. That inner circle forms
within a group anyway. But if one is ready to embrace different personalities
and ideas, setting a personal takeaway, networking will prove to be a great
resource building tool.
Source | Daily News Analysis | 6th February 2018
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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