What do you do if you want to establish connections with colleagues from different departments or teams?

In today's competitive world, it's essential to possess strong networking skills. Regardless of your expertise, make an effort to regularly engage with others and initiate meaningful conversations. Leave your ego behind and cultivate respectful relationships with those around you. Maintaining a visible presence and being adaptable is crucial. Social gatherings are invaluable opportunities for career advancement, allowing you to interact with diverse individuals. Identify your strengths and leverage them effectively to make a positive impact among peers and colleagues. Embrace a global, cross-functional mindset and strive to break down barriers, recognizing that learning is a continuous journey without end.

Far too many organisations still adopt cultural values from the beginning of the 21st century, now we are well established into its third decade . Progressive businesses create a sense of belonging, a community that comes from being a part of the organisation, a sense of enjoyment and a sense of meaning, differentiating the business with people that have a sense of ownership, feeling they are cared for, and are being recognised for their contributions.

It's always nice to put a face with a name. Invite a colleague from another department to lunch, or meet up for coffee. Inquire about the work they do on their projects. See where you may have some interconnectedness or synergy within their projects. Be curious, ask questions. Offer to be a sounding board for idea generation, or outside the box thinking. Follow up with them when the project launches - To see how progress is trending. Show genuine interest.

1. Knock on their door and say hi. 2. Ask them about themselves, family, fun, personal interests 3. Ask them how you can help them with their role in the context of yours.

Consider your motives and shared interests before connecting with someone from a different team. Whether it’s seeking advice on a project, finding common ground in a hobby, or wanting to understand their expertise better, knowing your purpose aids in initiating and maintaining engaging conversations. This approach fosters meaningful connections and facilitates productive exchanges.

I will first look the colleague up on my company directory to understand which country he or she is located in I will get a rough idea about the appropriate time zone, I don't prefer connecting with people outside their business hours Then I will go to look him up on my favourite place which is LinkedIn, to get a hint about his past experience, his proficiency and may be his educational background Now I am armed with basic info before I establish a connection. I will start with small talk - Give a brief intro abt myself, talk abt the weather, compliment him if I was impressed with his credentials on LinkedIn and then politely tell him why I reached out If he can help great, but if not I will ask him to point me to the right person

I simply call him/her and ask to have coffee and chat to explore areas for collaboration. It strengths the scial connection as well as business.

I go to them, check their work environment and collect all possible data about them and surrounding conditions Then, i call for a meeting to listen to them, their ideas, achievements, concerns, comments, work / life challenges and complaints- if any I ask how can we make things better and involve them in the action plan

My advice here is - don't stalk and learn every tiny bit of it; respect people's borders; and give yourself the space to ask questions. Of course, you can say that you saw their LinkedIn and then base your talk on similarities - which is a good start and icebreaker, however, don't be a detective in this search.

Don’t forget the power of your network. Use LinkedIn to see if you have mutual connections who you could help make the first ask. While the new connection may not recognize you initially when you first reach out, a mutual colleague or friend can help get the conversation started, or at least get you out of their spam inbox!

Step out of your comfort zone and into theirs. Start by joining interdepartmental projects or lunch-and-learns to share knowledge and insights. Small simple acts go a long way: a simple "hello" in the hallway, complimenting someone’s work, or sharing a beverage can open doors to meaningful conversations. Be genuinely curious about their roles, challenges, and successes. Making connections isn’t just about finding ways to benefit your career, but it is also about building authentic relationships that enrich both your professional and personal life. Let your guard down, be vulnerable, and listen. Great connections often start from a place of humility and genuine interest.

I prefer informal activities to initiate collaboration with colleagues at work. This means actively participating in social events, hosting lunch and learn sessions, or simply asking someone if you can buy them a coffee for a coffee break.

Spend time getting to know them as humans while learning about their unique role and areas of responsibility. Provide support and encouragement while collaborating on various projects. Ask questions to gain understanding about how you can best support them from an HR perspective.

Step out of your comfort zone and into theirs. Join interdepartmental projects or lunch-and-learns to share insights. Simple acts like saying "hello" or complimenting work can lead to meaningful conversations. Be genuinely curious about their roles and successes. Building connections enriches both professional and personal life. Be vulnerable, listen, and show genuine interest.

- connect with those you are likely to collaborate with in your role and function. During your conversations with them ask them about other peers and how they collaborate together. Ask them who you should meet with next. This usually opens doors and easier to introduce yourself. - find common ground with those you need to meet with: professional, personal interest and hobbies, etc. - for marketing it is always easier to meet with various teams and executives since marketing does and should touch all employees. Ask them what the brand means to them. An easy opening.

Attend cross-departmental events: Participate in company-wide meetings, workshops, or social events Reach out: Don't hesitate to reach out to colleagues from other departments to introduce yourself and express interest in collaborating Join interdepartmental projects: Volunteer to work on projects that involve multiple departments. Participate in cross-functional meetings: Attend meetings or brainstorming sessions that involve members from different departments to contribute ideas and network with colleagues. Offer assistance: Be proactive in offering help or support to colleagues from other departments when needed. Seek mentorship or guidance: Reach out to experienced colleagues from different departments for mentorship or advice

There are always projects that exist in the white spaces between the boxes on the org chart. Find common ground with colleagues in which you can lift one another’s work. There is no better way to forge connection than to be equally yoked in a project that can be overcome together…

We’ve had great success with our volunteering projects, where employees from various departments and business units pro bono collaborated toward a shared goal. We usually split the time commitment evenly, allowing employees to contribute during paid work hours and match that time with their personal free time. This approach has yielded excellent results, not only in achieving the philanthropic objectives but also in fostering valuable soft skill development. Participants have reported improvements in leadership skills, heightened motivation, and exposure to diverse work styles and perspectives from charities and volunteers. It’s been an enriching experience, offering a glimpse into real-life scenarios beyond our corporate environment.

Seek ways to help other departments or teams meet their objectives. Be unreasonably generous with resources, contacts and introductions. There's something irresistible about healthy, resourceful people.

So important to collaborate, network and build long-term relationships! In person contact is often overlooked in this time of instant messaging. Meeting face to face from time to time builds trust and strengthens those key connections.

Show genuine interest - or not at all. Be authentically supportive - or not at all. Celebrate sincerely their achievements - or not at all. Don't just check a list of "to do" gestures, or they will come off as fake. Don't underestimate people's ability to detect hypocrisy.

The first thing we need to do is stop talking about they and us: it is 'we'. We all contribute to the success of the company and all have our input from different views. We should acknowledge and appreciate that. I find it very important to establish a truly human connection and be interested in the people. That way you will establish an understanding and relationship that will help when collaborating together and also: be vulnerable yourself.

I would like to add my experience we should consider the below points for a better establishing connection: * Initiate Informal Conversations: * Attend cross-departmental events * Arrange informal gatherings * Utilize coffee breaks or lunchtime * Collaborate on Projects: * Seek opportunities for cross-departmental projects * Offer assistance or expertise * Work towards common goals * Offer Help and Support: * Be proactive in offering assistance * Show willingness to collaborate * Foster teamwork and camaraderie

Shared goals harness the combined power of each person's perspective, needs, and expertise to create a clear and mutual path toward the goal. Shared goals allow you to start with buy-in from all stakeholders, helping teams to feel engaged and aligned from the beginning

Not everything needs to be a meeting. Connection can be made in a variety of ways these days, and today, time is our most precious resource. Connecting using common communication avenues while recognizing limited bandwidth and achievements within that bandwidth can go a long way. Conveying the 'why' of the need for the connection and mutual benefit will also inspire urgency and make the connection become a priority.

A mentorship program that crosses team boundaries can be really helpful and productive and encourages members from disparate departments to pair up, sharing experiences, perspectives, and expertise. As an illustration, a mentor from the IT department could enlighten a mentee from human resources on leveraging technology to streamline HR processes, such as automating employee onboarding, enhancing both efficiency and employee experience. This not only addresses specific issues but also improves interdepartmental relations.

Learning and growing are two sides of a coin. Learn more about the other department which whom the relationship needs to be established. You might get some feedback to work on, those are the opportunities to learn and grow. Learning something always helps

One way to achieve this is regular cross-functional retrospectives. This can be tied to specific projects or have a monthly or quarterly cadence. The key is to have ground rules that start with a no-finger-pointing policy and that everyone there is doing the best they possibly can given the resources available.

Consider initiating informal coffee chats or virtual meetups to establish connections. These casual interactions provide a relaxed environment for getting to know colleagues outside of work-related contexts. For example, you could invite someone from another department for a coffee break or schedule a virtual lunch to chat about non-work topics. This informal setting allows for more personal conversations, fostering genuine connections beyond professional duties. Such interactions can lead to stronger relationships and a more collaborative work environment.

It’s never ending process of learning and self development. The moment when someone feels that they know everything is the moment when they stop learning and growing.

To foster connections across departments, consider organizing "Lunch and Learns." These informal sessions allow colleagues from various teams to share knowledge, skills, or insights over lunch. Rotate speakers from different departments to ensure a diverse range of topics that appeal to a broad audience. This not only encourages learning and collaboration but also builds a sense of community and understanding across the organization. It's a simple yet effective way to bridge departmental divides, enhance cross-functional collaboration, and foster a more inclusive and interconnected workplace culture.

Leading with empathy by reaching out and understanding their perspectives, goals, and challenges of colleagues in other departments. This helps in fostering mutual respect and effective communication. Invest time in building relationships through informal meetings, coffee chats, or team-building activities. Work towards common organizational goals that benefit each other. This creates a shared purpose and incentivizes collaboration. Be open to new ideas, feedback, and changes. Adaptability helps in navigating complex situations and finding innovative solutions together.

Think beyond your immediate team and goals and embrace perspectives. Engaging the teams is more important than establishing a connection itself. The greater goal to achieve collaboration will unfold when all leaders involved are engaged, communicate transparently and have the ability to put forth their own perspective even if it differs from the rest.

Cross collaboration and building rapport with other team members is very important for internal network building. Sometimes it can come in very informal ways through company events and engagements. Make sure to attend and show genuine interest for others on a personal level. Being part of an ERG or company network can also help introduce you to other team members and it helps that you would already have a common purpose/goal since you are in the same committee or group.

What I learnt is innovative but not unethical. Here is my experience at MNC*s : - First connect with the power centres(influencers). The best way to know is to observe the clustering of women around some popular entities in social gatherings - Mostly they are the most powerful people in the organisation who can lift you up . - Find out their personal interests & hobbies. - Figure as to how you can be a part of these activities to develop a rapport with the influencer. Suppose the influencer is a golfer & if you are also a golfer,then the overall chemistry is likely to match if you are playing together. -Your proximity to the big wigs will automatically connect you to a lot of outside people who are not connected with you.