What do you do if you want to enhance your networking skills within your organization?

"Looking to boost your networking skills within your organization? Here's how: Attend Internal Events: Connect with colleagues across departments. Join ERGs: Engage with diverse employee resource groups. Volunteer for Projects: Collaborate with teams outside your department. Use Communication Platforms: Participate in discussions and share ideas. Seek Mentorship: Build relationships with mentors and sponsors. Attend Training Programs: Enhance skills and meet new people. Initiate Coffee Meetings: Connect informally with colleagues. Engage in Employee Initiatives: Contribute to engagement activities. Expand your network and create new opportunities!

Active listening is crucial for enhancing networking skills within your organization. Give your full attention to the person you're talking to. Maintain eye contact, nod occasionally, and use non-verbal cues to show that you're engaged. Avoid interrupting the speaker or jumping to conclusions. Let them finish their thoughts before responding. Summarize what you've heard to ensure you understand correctly. Ask clarifying questions to delve deeper into their points. Try to understand the speaker's perspective and feelings. Show empathy by acknowledging their emotions and experiences. Minimize distractions like checking your phone or looking around the room while someone is speaking. Focus solely on the conversation at hand.

To enhance networking skills within your organization: 1. Build genuine relationships by showing interest in colleagues. 2. Attend company events to meet colleagues from various departments. 3. Join internal groups or committees to connect with like-minded individuals. 4. Seek mentorship to gain valuable insights and expand your network. 5. Volunteer for cross-functional projects to collaborate with diverse teams. 6. Utilize social media and internal platforms to engage with colleagues. 7. Offer help and support to strengthen relationships. 8. Attend training programs to develop skills and connect with peers. 9. Seek feedback to improve and demonstrate commitment to growth. 10. Maintain professionalism and authenticity in all interactions.

It's not only about active listening. It's about listening, taking action and being a role model. This is the way to win the trust of team members, employees and of course improve your professional network.

Doing extra-curricular activities is often the best way to expand your network. If you find an important resource missing (e.g. a 101 overview of your company, or a directory, or process description), you can raise your hand, and drive creation of those resources. This will give you a worthwhile reason to network with people to source these resources from, and you'll benefit your co-workers who'll need these resources as well - which in turn helps networking.

Make sure to participate in social events so that people can get to know you on a more personal level. This allows for a different type of connection, and a deeper understanding of who each other are. Assumptions are always made if you do not have an opportunity to foster relationships and find common interests.

Connect with others that you may not know on your internal platforms or LinkedIn. Especially if a person is someone who is in a position that you are interested in, or you are looking for a mentor, or even to mentor someone. Connect! Begin the conversation. Creating connections through digital platforms is much less intimidating initially if you are not one that is comfortable with approaching someone in person.

Leverage your workplace network to identify potential mentors. Look for individuals who have a successful track record in areas you want to excel in. Attend company events, join professional groups, and actively participate in team activities to expand your network.

If your organization has a mentorship program, jump on it. Mentorship is one of the best ways to gain not only support, grow your network and also gain sponsorship in the long-term. Connecting with mentors may seem daunting so if there is a mentorship program, it's a very easy and seamless way to get connected. If there is a mentorship program, it's also a great thing to suggest.

One way that we foster connections and getting to know others through our industry is with what we call a "Leader Walk". Supervisors take an hour of time to do a walk-about around the different areas and departments to say hello, ask how things are going, to show their face so that everyone can see who they are and get to know them. If they do a leader walk, and introduce themselves, then it initiates future conversations and makes you appear more approachable

Networking becomes easier when we are genuinely curious about the other person and want to hear their story. When we actively listen rather than waiting for our turn to speak. When instead of engaging in superficial conversations, we can genuinely get to know each other. When we can show up authentically and honestly. But most importantly, when we stop viewing people merely as resources or connections. Networking is easier when we approach it "as if" we were just people making friends.

Be intentional in setting up coffee talks or even lunch breaks once a week with at least 1 person you do not know. Do not limit your network with your direct connections or field of interest. Look beyond your area of expertise and connect with people who work in departments you have no direct connections with. This can create a network that will help you grow, make you better at your work, create connections that will help the company and your department as well.

If you're new to an organization, it's a great reason to reach out to people and inquire about their role and how you can engage. If you're not new, don't be deterred. there are many reasons to connect with leaders in your organization, including two inquire about possible mentee opportunities. If there's someone who is doing a job you see yourself in someday, reach out to them let them know that those are your career aspirations, and that they are someone you look up. Everyone loves a compliment, and will be more than willing to help you on your career journey. Some things to consider on having clear questions and clear objectives for the meeting so that you're not wasting any time.

Es fundamental tener una escucha activa y estar receptivos. Las relaciones sociales, traen con ellas experiencias que pueden estar o no alineadas con nuestro ámbito profesional. Cultivar relaciones objetivamente, es probable ayude a mejorar nuestro networking