Workplace Networking is often an untapped gold mine of opportunity!
How many people line up to work in their ideal role, applying for one position after another, spending hours on proposals, applications – you know the paperwork, the research and the proofreading, preparing for the perfect interview. You think you’re really in with a chance this time, you’re perfect for the role, but it goes to someone who knew someone. The old “better the devil you know” thinking. It’s crazy isn’t it – why settle for a devil they know, when you, an angel, are waiting in the wings?! It’s so true isn’t it… it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. 
So what can you do, to be the one who has it all? You know the “What”, you have the experience, qualifications, and most important, the attitude and ability to learn and innovate, and the “Who”. You know the people who make the decisions, or you know someone who knows them.
Have a think about the people you work with. Who do you pass in the lobby each day? Then consider who they might know… you would be familiar with some people in their network, but you only need to spend a few minutes on a social networking site, (such as FaceBook or LinkedIn) to see how you have friends or connections who have some mutual friends, and so many more you don’t know yet. Consider those people – who do they know? Can you see that the possibilities are endless?
What’s next then? Raiding your friends or colleagues list and “adding friends”? Perhaps not the best approach. I’m not recommending you do all your networking online either! Most of my connections around the world have come by face to face or phone meetings. Actual conversations and genuine “getting to know” each other.
Workplace Networking opens up a new world of possibilities, but if you go looking for what you can get out of it, you may not be appreciated or tolerated by those you wish to connect with. A new connection might be worthwhile because a) you know or have something of value to share with the person you’ve met, b) you know someone who has something that the person you’ve met needs or would appreciate.
I see how I can help Barrie with something I have to give, or I can see that if I can introduce Barrie to Tash, she’s in the right place to help him. Barrie and I could help each other with a mutual support of some kind. I may not have anything Barrie needs or wants, but he might be happy to support me in some way. Why would Barrie be interested in helping me? Because he’s seen that I’m not just in it (the conversation, the relationship) for what I can get out of it. I believe it’s Jim Rohn who says, “If you help enough people get what they want, you’ll get everything you want”
So while you need to be Workplace Wetworking to build your opportunities, you need to keep it genuine. Cut-throat competitiveness may work for a season, but you want to sleep at night don’t you? And I’m sure you want to arrive at your destination, knowing that you are there because you are the right person for the job, confident in your relationships because you’ve built on a strong foundation of authenticity and generosity.
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Be the angel, not waiting in the wings, but stepping onto centre stage because of your Workplace Networking!
By Kerrie Phipps©