Networking – it’s your job!

One thing I wish I'd learned earlier in my career is this:

Networking is a critical leadership competency.

The great news - it doesn't require any specific skills, education, or knowledge. But it does require three key things. Let's explore them.

#1 The Right Mindset

When I ask clients what holds them back from networking, the top answers are always:

• I'm too busy doing my job

• It feels self-serving and icky

• I don't want to waste people's time

Let's shift the narrative. Networking is your job! Building the right relationships in your organization helps you learn, provides you with a diverse set of opinions so you can make better decisions, and helps you to navigate the organization to get things done. Building relationships outside of your organization broadens your perspective, can build your brand as a thought-leader, and help you recruit talent. I could go on… there are a million ways networking makes you a stronger leader.

When I dig in with clients to understand where the "ick" factor comes from, it's because they see "networking" as something to be done when looking for that next role or reaching for promotion, and therefore self-serving. Networking is important for future job opportunities, internally and externally, but if you start networking when you feel you are ready for that promotion or new job, it's already too late.

Shifting you own narrative looks like this:

From This:	To This:
"I'm too busy with my job"	"It's a critical part of my job"
"I'll network when I'm ready for a job change"	"My network will be there when I need it."
"I'm imposing on people"	"I'm helping others build their network"
"Why would someone want to talk to me?"	"Why wouldn't someone want to talk to me?"
"I'm not good at networking"	"I haven't yet paid enough attention to networking"

#2 Treat it like a Project

Like anything important we want to accomplish, networking needs the proper time, attention and planning.

• Start with strategy: What are your goals for networking? What type of people do you want to have in your orbit? What will successs look like?

• Build a plan: How will you operationalize it? Use your calendar to block time. Determine how you will collect important information about people you connect with, schedule follow ups.

• Review progress on a regular basis.

#3 Focus on Giving

Go into every conversation with a ton of curiousity and looking for ways to help. Can you make other connections for them? What can they learn from you? How else can you be of service? I've heard from countless leaders that this spirit of giving helps to take away that ick-factor and always is repaid to them in multiples.

Don't wait to start making networking part of your job. It will make you a better leader, the effort will pay off, and it's fun!

And it you want to start with me, reach out. I love connecting!