You want to network with other professionals in your company. What are the best ways to get started?

Networking with other professionals in my organization is actually one of my 2024 goals. I started by attending more company events, specifically events hosted by the team I just joined as this provided a great opportunity to meet people within my new division. Second, I volunteered for projects that would force me out of my comfort zone and put me in new places with people I haven't met before.

Participar de eventos e reuni?es, workshops, treinamentos e outras atividades organizadas pela empresa para encontrar colegas de diferentes departamentos, aproveitar momentos informais como pausas para o café, almo?os para iniciar conversas e conhecer novas pessoas. Participar de projetos que envolvem colabora??o entre equipes é uma ótima maneira de estabelecer conex?es e mostrar suas habilidades.

To network with other professionals in your company: Attend company events, such as meetings, workshops, and social gatherings. Join internal professional groups or committees related to your interests or expertise. Utilize company-wide communication channels, like email lists or intranet forums, to introduce yourself and express your willingness to connect. Initiate one-on-one meetings or coffee chats with colleagues from different departments or teams. Offer assistance or seek advice on projects or initiatives, fostering collaboration and relationship-building opportunities.

Firstly, one needs to ackowldge and understand the importance of networking. It is crucial to be available to netwprk before attending comoany events/functions, be extrovert in the way that one approaches collegues, open to interact, discuss different matters.

It is said, a person is the average of the 5 friends or colleagues he or she interacts with. Thus, it becomes imperative to 1. Identify your goals and objectives for networking 2. Choose your coterie in line with it A network based on the above criteria should go a long way in improving your skills, and enhancing your learning and value.

Every organization has different collaboration and communication tools like MS Teams, Yammer, custom chatting tools, Skype, etc., which allow us to connect with all the people within the organization. I believe we should connect with our network beyond organizational tools so that we stay connected with them even when they leave the organization. Thus, media forums like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube come in handy.

Participating in the company's events and activities provides a great forum to interact and learn about fellow colleagues without being bound by organizational hierarchy. An organization with a great culture fosters the free flow of ideas, information, and interactions via such events.

I consider it an excellent opportunity to kickstart the development of a network within the company by actively engaging in events and activities promoted by it. Participation in webinars, workshops, and social gatherings not only offers the chance to acquire new skills but also to forge valuable connections with colleagues. It's crucial to highlight the significance of exploring external events supported or encouraged by the company, such as industry conferences, face-to-face meetups, or online forums.

I always start with the thought "What's in this for me?" from the other person's perspective. What can you offer to them, that will make it worth their time? Sometimes all it takes is a keen interest in their role. A simple message via internal channels that says "I'm [Your Name], working over in [Your Department]. I’ve heard great things about your team's work on [mention any known project or achievement, if applicable], and I'd love to learn more about your experiences and share insights from my own projects. Would you be open to a quick coffee chat or virtual meet-up sometime next week? It would be great to exchange ideas and explore potential areas for collaboration." will almost always get a positive response.

Before going for networking. You should have clear understanding/Vision why you want build networking. - To better understand cross functional teams working structure. - If any information required within your team from other functional unit then it’s easy if you have already connected with other teams. - If you have connections with cross functional teams within your organization.If you need some information from other team it’s easy and complete your work within specified time because you have already connected with that team.