What are the best ways to develop your networking skills during a culture change?

1 Identify your network goals

Before you start reaching out to people, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from your network. Do you want to learn new skills, find a mentor, explore new roles, or expand your influence? Your network goals should align with your personal and professional development objectives, as well as the culture change vision and values. Having specific and realistic network goals will help you focus your efforts and measure your progress.

2 Find the right people

Once you have your network goals, you need to identify the people who can help you achieve them. These can be people within your organization, such as leaders, peers, or cross-functional teams, or people outside your organization, such as customers, partners, or industry experts. You can use various sources to find the right people, such as internal directories, social media platforms, online communities, or events and webinars. Look for people who have the skills, knowledge, experience, or connections that you need, and who share your interests, values, or vision.

3 Reach out and connect

After you have a list of potential contacts, you need to reach out and connect with them. This can be done through various channels, such as email, phone, video call, or face-to-face meeting. The key is to be respectful, polite, and professional, and to show genuine interest and curiosity. You can start by introducing yourself, explaining your network goals, and asking for their advice, feedback, or referral. You can also offer something of value, such as your insights, skills, or resources. The goal is to establish rapport and trust, and to create a positive impression.

4 Follow up and maintain

The last step is to follow up and maintain your network relationships. This means staying in touch, providing updates, expressing gratitude, and giving support. You can use various methods to follow up and maintain your network, such as sending thank-you notes, sharing relevant information, asking for feedback, offering help, or inviting to events. The goal is to keep the communication open, consistent, and meaningful, and to show appreciation and recognition. This will help you build long-term and mutually beneficial relationships that can help you grow and succeed during a culture change.