Internal Networking Secrets Revealed!

I had a dear friend who worked “Hot Lunch Duty” with me at my son’s Middle School years ago. All parents donated volunteer hours. Our specialty was Hamburger Wednesday and involved a copious number of homemade cookies or Rice Krispy treats. At the school lunch counter, we told family stories to each other. She shared how her elderly Mother said goodbye to her hometown as she moved to live-in with my friend in her final years.

The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick Maker The small Minnesota town had been “home” for more than 40 years. Her mother knew everyone! She spent a solid week saying her goodbyes as she visited the dry cleaners, the butcher, the deli and the shoe repairman. She called on the firewood delivery fellow and the gal who helped her plant her annual vegetable garden. Each one was given a notecard with her new address in a faraway state and asked to “keep in touch”. She had deep roots in her community.

Your Company Town You may work in a company large enough to have many different departments, just like the multitude of shopkeepers in that small Minnesota town. Who do you know in HR? Accounting? Marketing? Facilities maintenance staff? Some of your company’s key departments may be only available through email as they are located elsewhere. Knowing people in your company across multiple divisions, and maybe even multiple locations will help you weave together a stronger company presence. It will beneficially broaden your perspective to include work being performed by people outside your general area of work. They also will have the distinct pleasure of getting to know you!

Valuable Workplace Interactions A recent study supports the value of getting to know your colleagues better.  Over 2,000 employees and managers across 10 different countries reported that a sense of isolation and lack of collegial engagement intensifies with remote positions. Professionals who primarily communicate with coworkers using technology vs. face-to-face interactions also reported feeling lonely most of the time.

The Upside to Internal Networking Our evolution can attest that humans work in social groups. Getting to know just a little bit about some of your colleagues can be very rewarding. Some ground rules are needed – good fences make good neighbors and good colleagues. So here they are. I suggest a few simple icebreakers, so you can do a bit more than “say hello” when you meet at the watercooler or elevator.

·   Favorite foods, favorite genres of movies or music, or something quirky that you like such as Knock-Knock Jokes! Cookies can work, too!

·   Explain that you are seeking to know a little more about your colleagues since you spend a lot of your time at work. But you are not looking for best friends or people to date, etc.

·   Stay away from politics or the headline issues of the day – no axes to grind.  Just friendly conversation for 15-20 minutes.

·   Stay at the 10,000 foot level of what you do with your actual work at the company – and speak positively about your employer. You are not looking to engage in complaints or general work-a-day grouchiness!

·    Follow up with a quick hello via email or when you bump into each other and remember what they care about – or share something new: The Texans won!

·    Plan to meet someone new 1x each week and don’t take it personally if someone declines to engage with you. Everyone is busy. It’s all good.

Happier @ Work When you’re happier with the people you interact with every day, that happiness instills in you an overall improved sense of job satisfaction, offers greater task efficiency and even better creativity. Having friendly coworkers enriches your experience and can provide a sense of belonging and positivity, making for a great work environment.

You Said Something About Secrets….Are you trying to work your way into an appointment for some new business at a large company? Get to know some folks there and let them help you to network internally. Are you exploring what other departments could also use your services so you can move to a new division? How about that job search that you may have underway – but you want to leave on good terms and have some references to boot? These are all opportunities to practice your internal networking.

In summary, internal networking can make the workplace happier, more efficient and creative. It can also help you achieve your personal work goals. You should try it! Not sure how to get started? Well, there’s coaching for that! Looking for a speaker for your group? Connect with me here.