Networking skills: The art and science of human connect

“You are joking, aren’t you? Coach, do you think I have time for this? And honestly, I am not in sales so why would I network?” Rakesh Gupta has just taken up as the chief financial officer of an owner-driven, Rs 100-crore manufacturing organisation. This knee-jerk reaction was the result of y suggestion to bond and network with internal team and vendors as well. It is a common notion to think that networking is just for a few job domains. Insead Social Innovation Center’s project research done on a select group of 30 managers says that most people think networking as either waste of time or manipulating people in a flattering and attractive way.

Both are myths.

Even University of Missouri had an interesting find to share. A study of 418 managers and professionals was conducted to examine the relationship of personal and job characteristics to their involvement in networking. The core factors creating a significant impact on an individual’s skill to network across a social or business settings included, gender, social and economic background, the hierarchy of the organisation, the position held and upbringing background.

Well, managers mostly rise from ranks and they remain submerged nose deep in the technical aspects of work and meeting their functional objectives. It feels like a threat to move beyond core capabilities and face people on a strategic bonding level.

It is easier than it sounds. These steps will ensure networking with an ease.

The reason behind that coffee:

It is crucial to set an objective on the network you are getting into. Internal networking between departments and cross-functional teams too require focused objectives. Else soon one could be termed as a “time waster.”

The University of PEI found out that an astonishing 67% people quickly forget that cross-functional networking should not sound like gossip parties. That does more harm than good.

Everyone is a natural networker:

Though humans are born people oriented, gender and upbringing can be building or breaking blocks of one’s natural networking skills. If you belong to a small village, networking is an innate skill as everyone is looked up as a family.

Big city bugs know how to make friends in metro and elevators. It is about creating a possibility. Do not be fixated on first impressions of anyone. People evolve and change with time.

So, carrying fixed mindset will be a hindrance in creating new bonds.

Relationships are not spontaneous:

Psychology Today published that 59% of people sabotage their networking skills because the thought says that if you just like a person, you hit off well else it is not going to work.

Networking in business or jobs is based on peer-to-peer learning. It is important to have people who do not match your ideas and thought process.

Networks necessarily may not be of people who trust each other and create an immense value for each stakeholder. That inner circle forms within a group anyway. But if one is ready to embrace different personalities and ideas, setting a personal takeaway, networking will prove to be a great resource building tool.

The writer is a strategic advisor and premium educator with Harvard business publishing.