The New Networking Dynamic
We all find ourselves in some form of isolation these days.
We may be quarantining, not traveling outside of our work sphere, some not even going into work. Perhaps we have not seen family and friends as often as we want, missed family and friend events like weddings and funerals and holidays. We wait for the day when all that will lift, and we will return to “normal times”.
But normal as we knew it — January 2020 — will probably not be there when we go looking for it. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world and the big question is “What are we doing to ready ourselves for that?”
Let’s look first at isolation. Many of us who have already established networks of colleagues are relying on them now to defuse the sense of isolation we may be feeling. We use Zoom calls to connect with colleagues who we miss having conversations with. We create virtual meetings to replace our social needs — Happy Hours with friends. Nursing leadership programs have long promoted networking as a necessary leadership skill and now it is showing its worth.
No matter how you established that network, now is the time to care for it and revitalize it. There is so much new distributed knowledge that has been gained from this crisis. We must share that knowledge as we have never shared before. But we will be sharing in new ways. We must also use our network of colleagues to maintain our sense of connectivity to counter the sense of isolation that we might feel.
We may be remote from our colleagues across the country for some time. This is a great time to develop new collateral circulation for old systems that may be blocked from our former ways of connecting. Attending large annual meetings and education meetings may take some time to return. Some jobs may be permanently remote, separating traditional workforce connectivity.
So, start thinking now. Look ahead at what is transpiring for you and your organization. Focus on connecting, not isolation. How might we set up ways to ensure new networks? The work can begin now so that we can use this connectivity to expose us to new thoughts. There are ways that we can work together even if we can’t be face to face for a while.
”Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” — Michele Jennaeare
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
