These spaces of common interest link us with those people to share our tastes, our ideas, trends, generating enriched spaces.
It is to be able to develop the well-known state, called ‘FLOW’, where we will do what we like, without knowing about time or clocks, because when we flow in topics of our interest, our attention is facilitated and it seems that time flies. From there we can develop our greatest potential as individuals, and exercise our passions in tribes and related spaces, in the subjects that interest us, that we know or have acquired knowledge, sharing it with other people.
First of all, let me ask you if you know: What is networking?
The origins of networking
The origin of this word in English comes from the meaning of establishing a network of contacts, in work or professional environments. It is that relationship that is strengthened with others, to expand and strengthen our network of action.
In most cases, these contacts have the same interests in common with ours, or those that are manifested in our business, and can establish a great synergy in this network, in addition to offering new opportunities, enhancing our skills.
Networking serves to foster work, partnership and business relationships.
I consider it very useful and I like to emphasise that any human society develops through communication, and I would like to clarify that this is often interfered with because we do not know how to express ourselves with the determination that it deserves.
Having an assertive and emotional communication, in order to be able to connect properly with people, is a good start in Networking.
I also underline that individuals find great personal development when they “collaborate ’ with someone. Their collaboration is essential to establish the networking mentioned above, i.e. those exchange relationships that define and give synergy to these networks and their contacts.
Networking within companies and its importance
We all need to build good relationships with people who can help us in our work and be available to those who need our help.
The purpose of networking is to ensure co-ordination and co-operation to guarantee success in some tasks, as well as to deepen some day-to-day relationships.
As we delve deeper into this topic within organisations, some questions come to mind:
With whom to network within an organisation?
I will put some options that can help you to locate your own where you are:
- Within our work team
- Same roles as mine, but from other teams or management.
- Our direct bosses.
- Our bosses’ bosses.
- External collaborators of the organisation where I work, who have that contribution or influence in the role I exercise.
- Management assistants or assistants to a project or executive management.
It is important to know where we are aiming our gaze, in order to establish that ‘network of contacts’ that will help us:
- How do I get to be known?
- How to connect with the ‘whole’ that is my organisation, i.e. to get to know the different sectors and management areas where I am working.
- How can I enhance my professional positioning within the organisation?
Types of networking
It is good to know and highlight that there are three types of Networking in an organisation:
- Operational Networking: It helps you to manage responsibility in internal situations of a company.
- Personal Networking: Supports you with your personal development and career development.
- Strategic Networking: Helps you open your eyes to new people or areas that should be on your contact list.
I want to highlight that networking allows us to know the world through people who are also outside, for example, to understand what the competition is doing with the same product, to update what I do in search of continuous improvement, to open my mind to receive other types of feedback and to be predisposed to new learning, which can lead me to new interactions.
The value of relationships outside our environment should not be underestimated, especially since it is an immense source of knowledge and experiences. Every field I belong to, such as clubs, guilds, academies, social gatherings, congresses I attend, family or school reunions of our children. They are all opportunities to establish and build this network of contacts.
What are the general aspects that benefit our Networking?
It is interesting that to answer this question we focus on the skills in which we excel and which I mentioned earlier in relation to communication. I detail them below:
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication.
- Active Listening
- Being assertive
- Empathy
- Openness to new relationships.
- Respect for differences.
- Kindness, cheerfulness, courtesy.
- Connect with the emotional intelligence of others, and also with my own, within the environment in which I find myself.
- Make time to bond with my team, i.e. get to know each other.
Some specific aspects that benefit your networking
It is necessary to establish clear objectives to achieve what I set out to do, always offering value to others for the development of a project. We must maintain contacts in the long term to avoid forgetting my interests, connections and procrastination of a project that I have set as a goal.
Looking for spaces where you can contribute and not just expect to receive is key to being genuine and maintaining generosity.
Keeping these three steps that I am going to detail, will help us to establish our Networking in the right way. Having this framework of questions keeps us focused and uninterrupted.
- Why: What is the purpose of your networking?
- Value: Have something to offer in the value exchange. What are you specialised in? What is it that comes easily to you and not to others?
- System: What can you do to facilitate the value exchange, how many events, how do I present myself, how do I maintain contacts?
If I am clear about the first step, the ‘what for?’, I will be able to look for new spaces within the organisation where I am, where I can strategically put my talents and my values at the service of others.
Networking in the digital world
It is key to know the importance of making myself visible in a virtual community, such as a digital meeting, a forum, a training, a congress; it is here where I will have to actively participate, turn on the camera, take note of those contacts that may be of interest to me. Make myself known in that digital space.
In digital profiles, for example: Workplace LinkedIn WhatsApp, Instagram, etc., always have updated profiles, with our ID photo up to date, if someone wants to contact us, when they see our photo, they can identify us, likewise in the organisations we work for, if they see us on a course within an organisation and we do not update our work profiles, and the data does not match, it will generate doubt for whoever is looking for us.
USE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROFILES IN A STRATEGIC WAY. TAKE CARE OF YOUR PERSONAL BRAND and the contents published, as they speak of your interests.
A very useful tactic is to ‘Google’ our names and see what comes up in the search engine, that is how we identify ourselves with our personal brand to the world.
Data sharing
If you give your contact details to a person you are really interested in connecting with, it is possible that if you give your contact details to a person you are really interested in connecting with, you are leaving it in their hands, if they have the time and interest to connect with you, they may lose where they wrote it down and ultimately not do it. If you have the data, it is in your hands, your availability to make that new connection possible, and establish the contact.
To finish this content, I would like you to think about your Pitch, which is your direct presentation where you clarify who you are, your interests, what you do and you build trust, aligning interests in a common point.
For example:
- Hello I am …
- From the area …
- I am from …. (Country)
- My area of expertise is …
- I love …. (Hobby, Values, Interests, Etc.)
Thanks to Neirys Vilchez for this article.
