Creating a valuable network of connections in the workplace is considered a sure way to quickly move up the corporate ladder. It is the platinum rule of getting ahead in your career. Connections in your career not only provide advice and guidance on how to tackle different tasks, they also offer the much-needed bridge to get to the next level. This is by offering you a passage to connect with their rich pool of professional connections and also push you to attain your full potential.
Most people have a general idea on the value of professional network connections and its contribution to a successful career. Networking not only contributes to a steady career growth, it also helps get things done faster and more efficiently, as one can use the input of their networks in a particular task. However, most people find it hard to actually create functional networks. They consider it unnatural to them and quite the daunting task. They consider networking as unnatural to them and something they cannot do.
The tips below will show you how to go about creating and maintain valuable relationships in the workplace.
Make time
This is about your social skills and your ability to interact with people from diverse professional backgrounds. It is a product of excellent communication skills and a likable personality. Your colleagues in the workplace are social beings who thrive on human interactions. Take time to interact with people every chance you get. Be it tea breaks, lunch hour etc. Talk to someone new, regardless of their rank or background. Get to know what they do and how they contribute to the overall organizational objectives. If you are shy, these are the best times to get over your shyness. Do not wait for a formal class on how to overcome shyness, take opportunities that present themselves in the form of professional tete-a-tete. Please note that office gossip is not the way to go when creating networks. Your target here is to know who can help you be the best version of your professional self, not who did what scandalous thing. In fact, being involved in office gossip will make serious, focused people avoid you. Be careful what you discuss and ensure you remain professional.
Look out for mutual connections
Train yourself in the art of reading people to find a common ground. People feel more connected to other people who share a common interest, ideology, point of view etc. Establish connections with people you find it easy to relate with. It makes the whole process more natural and easy. Someone with whom you share a similar interest is certainly easier to approach and discuss a task in the workplace or an idea. Even the simplest of interests e.g a love for football, a liking for a particular movie genre etc, is an opening for great and valuable workplace connections.
Be Diverse in your connections
Always remember that the potential value of any single connection is never known on face value. Network as much as you can within the office. Apart from just improving your communication skills and interpersonal etiquette, it opens your mind to new ideologies, perceptions, and ideas. While you focus on your professional field, be keen to keep warm relationships with the loose ties in other sectors. You never know when you will need input from the guy in finance or sales for your marketing project.
Be specific on the focused pursuits
Even as you maintain diverse interactions with everyone else around you, remember to have a targeted list of things you would like to accomplish with these networks, especially those in the line you would like your career to follow. Senior colleagues in your organization like the CEO or General Manager are busy people and interactions with them will be minimal. This means that you will have minimal interactions with them, so you need to ensure that you make the right impression during such times. When you have requests that require their attention, make the requests specific and to the point. Make it easy for the extremely busy people to help you and create value for your projects by being clear, professional and focused during your interactions with them. When approaching a high profile individual in your organization for their input, make sure you have conducted enough research on the topic of discussion, anticipate the questions they are likely to ask and prepare the appropriate feedback. This way, you get maximum value from a single interaction.
Guard your credibility
Be reliable in your professional dealings. Let people around you know that you can be relied on to do what you said you will do. Deliver results and always do your best when tasks are handed to you. Be careful not to overpromise results and under-deliver on the same. It makes you lose integrity in the eyes of people you would like in your networks. Relationships are about trust and people around you need the assurance that you can be relied on and trusted. Where you make mistakes, own up and seek to offer as much effort as possible in correcting them. A credible reputation among networks makes confidence of others in your abilities and work ethics grow. This will ultimately open doors for you in your career.
Stay in touch
This is mostly for the networks considered loose or weak because interactions are not as regular as your main connections. It is wise to check on these networks once in a while. Their potent value cannot be overlooked. You might need their assistance in future, and the constant connection will make it easy to approach them. Staying in touch also keeps you in their minds, in case they hear valuable information related to your career.
Make your network robust
Build your network strategically. Critically view every interaction as an interview with an individual who could be instrumental in your career life. Choose who to hold close, who to shelf for the moment, and who to keep as just an acquaintance. All these selections should be based on how relevant these people are to the future of your career, the level of connection and shared interests you have with them and how well you click. You will want people who influence, challenge and inspire you as your network connections. Begin creating these networks now and reap the benefits in no time.
Gud one.but can still be a challenge, depending on what career you’re in. If not carefully done, can bring trouble, With ur current boss or the target persons. Another challenge is if its the opposite gender.. Again if well calculated, very possible
Thanks for sharing your sentiments Duncan, we highly appreciate it.
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A good read it was. Very enlightening.
Hi Mary
We are glad you are enlightened.
You should now start to build your own network and if you have already established one, make it even more stronger by implementing the tips we have given you.
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Really meaningful piece of advice. A big thumps up!
Thanks Emmanuel,
We are glad you are enlightened.
Keep it here for more inspiring career hints.
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very rejuvenative…clearly good
Thanks Patrick.
We are extremely happy to hear that, keep it here for more insights.
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Quite insightful, Thank you.
You’re welcome Anne
We appreciate your readership, now what follows next is for you to start networking.
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very insightful article! thank you
Your welcome Anne,
Keep it here for more insightful articles.
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Nice to hear from you team
Thanks Edgar,
We are also happy to hear from you.
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I love this write up..Am enlightened
Thanks Vivian,
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This is a great career piece, very informative, keep it here longer for assimilation
Thanks Harun,
You can access the information anytime just keep it here for even more inspiring articles.
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That’s a brilliant piece of advise. well noted and believe it will be of much help to many .
Thanks Jackson,
We appreciate your sentiments.
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Thank you lots for sharing such valuable information
Thanks Winslause,
We are glad to be of great significance to you.
Keep it Brighter Monday your Career partner.
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This is a very informative piece of literature. If most managers can adhere to the facts written here, everybody would enjoy working without ado.Keep it Brighter Monday, you are a darling to many.
Thanks a lot for the feedback franklin..much appreciated.
We endeavor to provide timely information to our audience.
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Thank you so much brightermonday! you always brighten my career path..good to know that “I need to build my networks strategically” very crucial!
You’re welcome Dorcas,
We are here to make your career path even brighter.
Your main focus is on how you can enlarge your network, just follow the tips here and you might be supriced within a short time the number of people you have in your pipeline.
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Hi Charles,
We do understand your frustration and someone from our team will call you to advice.
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I used to have the same frustration Charles but not anymore, you need to realise that this site only links you to the potential employer, It is your profile/CV that will sell you.
We could not have said it better Phillip, thank you and do share the same information to your colleagues and friends.
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Many thanks for quite an insightful read.
Your welcome Anthony,
Keep sharing your thoughts and feedback to us.
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thanks brightermonday for the inspirational text
You’re welcome.
Keep reading our articles for more inspiring information.
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am inspired, bado natafuta job.
Thanks Dickens, we are glad you are inspired, and the information you got here does not entail you to sit back and wait, we have fresh jobs advertised on daily basis on our website so there is no excuse, if any opportunity comes your way from other means seize it, utilize it, be an opportunist Dickens. If you don’t have an account with us create one by clicking the sign up button and make sure you complete the procedure that follows. Kazi kwako Dickens.
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Good and inspering piece of work.
Thanks for the feedback Fredrick.
Keep visiting our career center for more inspiring articles.
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Great article. It inspires me and prepares my future career plan. Am still a student and I understand that I have a good chance by creating good network with my colleague students and my tutors too.
Thanks for the article
Hi James
We are glad you are inspired. Start now with the ones that you have at hand, then search for other links from different sources ,venues and before you know it you will have a strong network.
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Noted
Thanks Mitch.
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usable.thanks always.
You’re welcome Guyton
As always we are here for you, keep it here.
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This info. is useful, thank you.
You’re welcome Mathew.
We are glad you are enlightened.
Continue to visit our career center for more informative articles.
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insightful. thanks
Thanks James.
Keep it here for more inspiring career hints.
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Owesome teachings.I have learnt a lot.thanks
You’re welcome Kibe,
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Thanks for good advice
Your welcome Kibe and keep writing to us.
We highly appreciate your feedback.
Wow! This is very informative.
Thank you Chrispine,
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Am greatful to read this artical it have realy helped me realising my mistake!
Thanks!
Your welcome John,
We are realy glad you are enlightened.
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Thank you am glad to hear from your.
You are welcome Sharma,
We would also want to hear more from you.
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This information is very helpful. Thanks Brighter Monday
Hi Stephen
Thank you for your unwavering support.
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Good content,really appreciate.
Hi Jack,
Thanks a lot for your feedback and support.. we highly appreciate it.
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This is great and very informative. I have not been following this blogs before but of recent it has become very informative and useful.
Kindly research and share with us on “Effective Decision Making” and also “Being Innovative and Creative at the work place”
Thanks
Hello Denis
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I find this article quite relevant. I have been employing some of the tactics highlighted and I can confidently confirm that they indeed work! Thanks.
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We are glad you have benefited from us and we encourage you to share this testimony to others so that they also may use our platform.
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Thanks for this.Very useful
Hi Fredrick,
Thank you for reading.
Put the tips you read from here to practice and see the results.
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Interesting read .keep doing good !
Thanks Wagacha,
We will keep on doing what we do best just stay tuned.
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This is great n helpful.thanks
Hi Maria,
Thank you for reading.
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Wow, greatful.
Hi Pauline,
Thank you for reading.
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I’ve learn your sentiments this will grow us
Hi Juma,
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Keep it here and not only will you grow but you will mature.
All the best.
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Very valuable and good eye opener information
Hi Calvince,
Thank you for your feedback.
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Awesome ideas
Hi Geti,
Thank you for reading.
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This is an eye opener. I like it.
Thanks for reading Jerry.
Stay tuned for more.
Thanks for that valuable information
We also value your feedback Milka.
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