Network Counts…
“It’s the people we hardly know, and not our closest friends, who will improve our lives most dramatically”
- Meg Jay, The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter — And How to Make the Most of Them Now
A great network is a product of strategic and conscious efforts. As the world has become more virtual, access is no longer a barrier to having even a global network. However, forging deep, meaningful and long-lasting relationships continues to be a challenge. Take for instance the energy sector where networking is an important catalyst to achieve the collaboration and partnerships needed to accelerate an industry in transition. For an individual, whether you are a player in a small company or a large multi-national firm, internal networking plays an essential role in career progression.
There is an overabundance of literature on the importance of networking and how to do it right. One common principle is the famous ‘Give and Take’ lesson. While some experts lean on building relationship first and then moving on to leveraging it, others believe that it is better to directly ask what you want. The first approach dictates that in order to build the relationship, sometimes, people tend to avoid confrontation, stretch themselves and refrain from speaking their minds. A hurdle with the second approach is that people often do not receive any response when they adopt a direct methodology. What might work for some might be ineffective for others. And what might work wonders today might not prove handy tomorrow. So, what should be an ideal approach to networking?
Step One- Establish an understanding that humans are complex beings and it takes time to get to know someone. Sometimes, months and years…but, in this fast-paced world, almost each of us is running towards achieving our ambitions and we wish to get there as quickly as possible.
Step Two- Cooperation begin with learning about and understanding the person you wish to build relationship with. Certainly, knowing about their academic and career journey is a great start, but an essential element to understand a person better is knowing their cultural codes. These codes can be defined loosely as those symbols and systems of meaning that have a specific relevance to members of a particular group or society, play a crucial role is shaping our traits, behaviors, preferences and style of working.
“Today, whether we work in Düsseldorf or Dubai, Brasília or Beijing, New York or New Delhi, we are all part of a global network (real or virtual, physical or electronic) where success requires navigating through wildly different cultural realities. Unless we know how to decode other cultures and avoid easy-to-fall-into cultural traps, we are easy prey to misunderstanding, needless conflict, and ultimate failure.”
― Erin Meyer, The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
Step Three- The final step is to be mindful of cultural codes of the person you wish to build relationship with and use genuine curiosity and compassion to build a meaningful connection. When we accommodate others’ cultural codes, we create a space for the other person to be more open and comfortable. In doing so, we become more authentic in our own beliefs.
Similar to any other skill, networking can improve with practice. Getting involved in a global community, such as Lean In Energy is an excellent way to experiment with and improve your networking skills. Lean In Energy is on a mission to empower women in energy to achieve their ambitions. With a rich member base across the world- North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, South and East Asia and Asia Pacific, the organization focuses on providing its members free of charge mentoring, networking and resources to advance professional growth while balancing other aspects of life. Lean In Energy’s special Lunch & Learn and Coffee Connections series provide a jumping off platform to its members to better network across the world.
Networking is a very personal venture. What works for one will not work for all and there are plenty of tools and resources available to improve networking skills. With that said, a universal truth to networking is that understanding the cultural codes to build trust is essential. Listening and learning based on others’ beliefs, experiences and world views while being open to new perspectives, is indispensable in making allied and building credibility with others.
This article is inspired by Kim A. Page’s powerful session on Storytelling as a part of her ‘Right Kind of Loud Online’ course. Kim A. Page’s book “The Right Kind of Loud: Finding Your Communication Voice” is part of the curriculum at several business schools.
Erin Meyer, The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business
