networking Archives

How to Encourage Networking within your Team

July 12, 2022

I wish I had someone give me advice about the importance of networking within your team and close circle. Some people just seem to have a knack for this; you see them joking and swapping stories about cookouts they attended or chatting about a recent sporting event. You watch this and wish you could do that, but shy away because it feels awkward. Not only am I talking about myself and you if you’ve ever experienced this, but I’m also speaking to the leaders who see this competency gap in their people.

What are you doing to provide feedback in a way that is positive and shows the value of networking? It is the difference between a team that simply gets results vs. a high performing team that fulfills a purpose and leaves an impact.

Fast Company speaks to the benefits of internal networking:

“When you continually network with other employees within your company, you’re building relationships, establishing rapport, and cultivating a mutual trust and respect that will enable higher productivity and a better overall work experience.”

I learned later that it takes a concerted effort to 1) choose to network, 2) decide how and who to network with, 3) actually doing it, 4) and being clear about the outcome you want to achieve.

I remember going to a networking event feeling quite awkward, but went in with the mindset that I would work the room and by the end give out 3 business cards. With that intention, I gave out 2 business cards and was later asked to join the board because I had the right presence and the way I spoke, they felt I would be a great leader. This worked well for me, but was guess work. I had no formula for successfully building a network.

We need to set an example for ourselves and the team to practice building this competency so it becomes natural. I wrote an article “How to be a Memorable Networker” . In it, I provide a step by step process on how to start a conversation with emphasis on asking well placed questions, listening and showing the other person you heard them. It is the foundation of building relationships.

I remember spending time with our sales team and hearing the complaints from customers and how we were not meeting their expectations. While solving the customer’s issue was important, the greater opportunity was building a trusting relationship with the sales person; letting them know we heard them. With that approach, future conversations went from a colleague who may rant about poor performance to one of collaboration and how do we make the customer right. This is the value of internal networking.

Zig Zigler once said, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

When we spend time building this competency that enables better relationships, the individual and the team can achieve higher levels of performance. People need to focus on building competencies as leading indicators of success. When people hone these competencies, the performance and results will come.

While I’ve shared the importance of it, we now need to encourage it in ourselves and the people in our circle. Ask a colleague to go for a walk with you, join you for coffee, invite them over for a barbecue, go to lunch, set up a 1-2-1 and just set aside time to get to know each other and not always about work. These actions are simple to do, but it starts with your mindset, your intention and the willingness to try it. With all new competencies it takes practice until it becomes a skill. Are you ready to invest in this new skill?

If this insight was helpful, share this article with others. If you have a unique challenge and wish to have a complementary conversation, please reach out to me. I love helping C-Suite leaders of today and tomorrow reach their career goals.

Your time is valuable, so I wanted to share a few quick links so I can be of service:

How to Stop Being the Best Kept Secret in Your Workplace

April 22, 2022

I raised my hand and said “I’ll go,” as troubles were brewing in another plant. “I’d love to see if I could help out.”

While I was satisfied with my work as an Operational Excellences expert, I knew I had more to offer and wanted to ultimately get a regional role. Volunteering to travel to another facility was the first step in moving my career forward with this company. Having been a high performer without the support of my manager to help move me forward, I knew I had to do something and STOP being the best kept secret in my workplace.

If you’ve ever hoped to get recognized and promoted only to see others pass you by, you know what I mean. We are brought into organizations to learn and provide value. Sometimes when we do our job well, our managers have peace of mind and don’t seek to create waves and move us along. In my story, I ultimately achieved a Regional Operational Excellence role, but not without honing a process that helped me to move forward. I am pleased to distill the framework for you.

The formula for being Seen, Heard & Respected

Start by asking yourself, are you willing to go outside your comfort zone?

It could be you that is holding yourself back and being the “best kept secret.” Maybe you are comfortable and that’s okay. But maybe you’re itching to get ahead, but never had the framework to start moving you from being a secret and putting yourself out there.

Know what you’re known for and be able to articulate your value

Know what you’re passionate about and merge what you are good into what you’re passionate about.

Keep an open dialog with your boss.

Let them know you’re interested in doing more and seek guidance with good people to connect with and have 1-2-1’s.You don’t want to do this behind their back. For some, they may see this as a threat depending on their mindset. You want to assure them, you will continue to do the work and meet their needs first.

Create a development plan for you to do some work in other areas a few hours a week
Cultivate those relationships and meet with them periodically.

Ask what challenges are in their areas. How can you help? Ask to share your work with other teams to spark ideas on how they can leverage your skills and add to what they are doing. Invite your boss and make sure they have a chance to shine or have a piece of the recognition.

I hope you found these tips helpful and encourage you to write down your own plan and see if it makes sense for you. Then take one action a week to move the plan forward. Always keep moving forward!

As I finish this article for you, just know I see you in front of me, seeking guidance to help you with your career. Just yesterday I met someone new and I hope in our 30 minute conversation I was able to change the trajectory of that talented individual.

Building new skills takes practice and I want to be there for you. We cover this framework in our Drop In C-Suite Academy which is still accepting students for enrollment. If you would prefer a 1-2-1 approach, I can also offer my coaching services.

For more information about The Drop In C-Suite Academy (CS) dedicated to the aspiring C-Suite leader, simply register to get on the waitlist, email me or connect with me for a quick chat. I can’t wait to help you be successful and reach your goals!

For more resources, you can listen to The Drop In CEO Podcast or check out my book The CEO’s Compass will help you get on track in days not months.

Resources

Good Reads

You Can’t Google It!: The Compelling Case for Cross-Generational Conversation by Phyllis Weiss Haserot – I am grateful to know Phyllis after being a guest on her podcast soon to be released as well as having her on mine. Her work is around helping the generations to better understand, communicate and collaborate. I finally finished his read while on vacation last week and it gives me hope that we will all be moving forward together vs. at odds with each other. Check out her work and connect with her. She’d love to hear from you.

Good Music

Heroic Opportunities by Soundcritters – this piece is so motivating as you venture into new tasks or initiatives; consider this song to get you in the right frame of mind. My copy writer and brand amplifier Amanda Lund waits patiently for me to write my weekly post. Having inspirational music quickly gets you focused and back on track! Enjoy!

Good Advice

“If you’ve never taken the time to have a conversation with an individual and understand the deepest gifts they have to bring, then who are we to judge them as being difficult?”

-Deb Coviello

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P.S. If you love the podcast, please write a review. We are offering a quick tutorial to make it easy to leave a review.

C-Suite Academy: How to Network without Nausea

March 18, 2022

Does the idea of networking make you feel like you ate butterflies for lunch? You’re not alone.

I remember walking into a networking event only knowing a few people, but had a goal of giving out three business cards and introducing myself to as many new people as possible. I wanted to be interesting, say the right things, have a meaningful conversation and have confidence in my presence. Well, 3 out of 4 isn’t bad as I still was not confident in my skin, but that has evolved much over the last few years. It’s never easy, but here are a few tips for you to make it easier.

Making networking easier starts with a framework. They don’t teach it in school nor in business and only a few lucky ones naturally have this skill or they model behavior they’ve seen in their family or in others. One of my sons (and husband) can go into a room and be the center of attention. My other two children have to observe the room before making small talk. We all come from different areas of comfort, but ultimately we need to provide a framework to make it easier for you.

While searching for statistics to validate this problem, I threw it out because there is so much written on this topic, it must be a problem! It is human nature to protect yourself from danger and the unknown. If humans evolved from a place of no fear, they might not exist. We protect our shelter, food, water and environment to assure we have our basic needs met. It is only with society changing over millions of years that needs are met, but our fear of the unknown remains at the core of our minds. It is time to break open that fear and move forward with connecting with the world. Most of the articles I read give you practical tips, but they fail significantly at defining what it means to network.

We are all human and what brings us together is community.

Here are a few tips for networking without the butterflies:

Smile, look them in the eyes, nod to acknowledge them and as a gesture of kindness and great them the way you want to be greeted and with culture in mind
Share how you are grateful for the opportunity to attend the event and ask the other person why they are here and what makes it welcoming for them.
When asked what you do, start with sharing what you love to do and why… this buys you a little time to get into a place where you express how you feel about your work. Then share how you help people, the way you help them and only at the end in what capacity. This is where your 30 seconds of fame come in to make you interesting
When they ask you to tell you more, give them a one minute about how you’ve enjoyed certain types of work and projects and what was the impact… again making yourself more interesting.
Always thank them for asking about you personally and professionally; it puts closure to the exchange and you’re seen as a gracious person and making a small impactful moment.

In this process, you are building relationships vs. seeking a transaction. Back in the day, they didn’t exchange business cards, but rather food or other symbols to share gratitude or to build the community. We should consider moving away from the “Networking” terminology and revert back to “Community Building” as the true purpose of why we are connecting with others. When we lift others, we lift ourselves.

What happened after this networking event?

When I was getting ready to leave the network event having handed out 2 business cards, I was then approached by a member of their board. I was asked to join the board because they felt I could make a contribution to the organization. I was grateful for having been asked and realized that building relationships was key to getting a successful networking outcome! I’ve made some great friends in this organization and I’m able to give back to future C-Suite leaders in the process. I have found my community!

If you’re still wondering how to put this to action, I am offering you the C-Suite Academy as my offer to help aspiring c-suite leaders take control of their careers based on my 25+ years of experience of navigating the system and learning what it takes to get into the c-suite.

For more information about C-Suite Academy (CSA) dedicated to the aspiring C-Suite leader, simply register to get on the waitlist, email me or connect with me for a quick chat. I can’t wait to help you be successful and reach your goals!

For more resources, you can listen to The Drop In CEO Podcast or check out my book The CEO’s Compass will help you get on track in days not months.