Welcome to this week’s Discuss HR, the blog written by and for members of Human Resources UK.
Today’s post is on a subject close to my heart which very much echoes my thoughts, namely how to network (on that note, look out next week for the announcement on the next round of HR networking events!). When I first met Jill she referred to me as a tart, until this day I thought it was due to my aftershave, but I now live in hope it was about my networking! Joking aside, I won’t ruin Jill’s denouement, but I am in complete agreement with her summary when she asks “Are you a networking tart?” (Ed Scrivener)
Are you a networking tart?
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| Hmmm, tart!! |
Whether you love it or hate it, it’s that time of year again! Time to dig out the little black dress or killer shirt and hit the Christmas parties, for fun, frolics and networking. Yes, providing you are not hell-bent on drinking the CEO under the table Christmas get-togethers can be a fantastic opportunity to network.
When you hear the word ‘networking’ what springs to mind? Being in a room with pushy people all with their own agenda and only interested in what you can do for them? Or do you see it as a chance to connect and build meaningful relationships with new and exciting people?
The fact that you are reading this through a social networking medium suggests that you are interested in networking to some extent, and the internet has meant that networking these days is much easier that it ever has been in the past. The collection of friends and acquaintances that people had 100 years ago, has now broadened geographically and has opened up limitless possibilities.
So, what’s the point of networking, why should we bother and what could it lead to? A few years ago I moved to a town in the middle of the country where apart from my husband and daughter I didn’t know anyone. My husband worked away during the week and I was at home with my six month old daughter, so the day after I moved in I took a deep breath decided to set up a local support group. My motivation was partly to network with more people as well as a desire to provide advice and information to new mums who may have otherwise felt isolated. Through this group I met lots of new contacts including a guy from the local council, who came the group to advise on safety around the home. Four years on Aaron and his family are amongst my closest friends – our families even holidayed together a few weeks ago.
Think about the tricky conversations that you often have to handle with others in your organisation. How much easier are those interactions when you already know that person? It’s essential that HR teams have the buy-in of the people they support and that they can be trusted and relied upon. If you’ve had an opportunity to network with others in your organisation you’ll have had the potential to build your reputation, trust, credibility.
Recently I attended an event at the Chartered Management Institute with Aaron. Not only was it an ideal networking opportunity the subject matter itself was networking. We were both surprised to hear from a number of the attendees who initially saw networking purely as a sales opportunity or to find out what someone could offer them. We’d both gone along with an open mind with nothing to sell and as a result had a fantastic time meeting and connecting with loads of new people.
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| Terry's hard sell or Frank's over-starched tie? |
In all aspects of life, personal and work, connections are essential. I've found that once you take the ‘sell’ out of networking and instead concentrate on building rapport, making new contacts is much simpler. You may not initially realise what you have gained by making a connection but long term it could lead to increased trust, a recommendation, or if you are very lucky a life-long friendship!
What are your experiences of networking and is it something that is valued by your organisation? Do you think spending money on Christmas parties is wise? What is the long-term impact of not having one? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
About the author
Jill is passionate about using creativity to unlock people’s potential, finding practical solutions that make a real difference to organisations. Her extensive management experience in both the public and private sector combined with HR consultancy has given her a real insight into how great HR can transform individuals and businesses.
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Discuss HR is the blog for Human Resources UK, the leading LinkedIn group for those involved with HR in the UK. Next week’s Discuss HR will be published on Thursday 1st December and will be written by experienced HR professional Sheena McLullich.
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