Your Network Equals Your Net Worth: Building Workplace Network

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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.

keeping time

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.

mutual

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.

diverse

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

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.

Doreen Mueke
Doreen is the Senior Content Marketer at Ringier One Africa Media.
 

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83 COMMENTS

  1. 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.
      We would really love to hear from you again, so don’t withhold your opinion or thoughts, feel free to share them.

      ^TM

    • 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.

      ^TM

    • Thanks Emmanuel,
      We are glad you are enlightened.
      Keep it here for more inspiring career hints.

      ^TM

    • You’re welcome Anne
      We appreciate your readership, now what follows next is for you to start networking.

      ^TM

    • Thanks Winslause,
      We are glad to be of great significance to you.
      Keep it Brighter Monday your Career partner.

      ^TM

  11. 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.
      Keep it Brighter Monday for more informative articles.

      ^TM

      • 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.

          ^TM

  12. Hi Charles,
    We do understand your frustration and someone from our team will call you to advice.

    ^TM

    • 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.

        ^TM

    • 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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    • Thanks for the feedback Fredrick.
      Keep visiting our career center for more inspiring articles.

      ^TM

  16. 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.

      ^TM

    • You’re welcome Mathew.
      We are glad you are enlightened.
      Continue to visit our career center for more informative articles.

      ^TM

    • Hi Stephen
      Thank you for your unwavering support.
      We endeavor to offer career advice to all our readers..keep it here.

      ^TM

  28. 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
      Thank you for your continued support. Your proposals will be put to consideration..stay tuned.

      ^TM

  29. 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.

    • Hi Reuben,
      Thanks a lot for your testimonial and readership.
      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.

      ^TM

    • Hi Fredrick,
      Thank you for reading.
      Put the tips you read from here to practice and see the results.

      ^TM

    • Hi Juma,

      Thank you for reading.
      Keep it here and not only will you grow but you will mature.
      All the best.

      ^TM

    • Hi Calvince,

      Thank you for your feedback.
      Keep it here for more enlightening articles

      ^TM

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