Networking: The Key Enabler for Success
Stefan Lindegaard
I help sharpen your leadership approach, build high-performance teams and enhance corporate innovation through new, original tools like Team Dynamics Cards and the Gap Map Overview.
I often interact with executives and innovation teams working hard to develop a strong innovation culture. This rarely works and the reason is simple yet overlooked. They don't really know what innovation means to the organization. When you don't have a common language and understanding around innovation, you can't expect to develop a culture around it. My advice is that you should not aim for an innovation culture, but go for a corporate culture that has a strong fit for innovation management and efforts.
For this to happen you need a strong networking culture. This is the key enabler for corporate success. If the top executives create the mindset, framework and right processes and provide the time for networking, you will tear down internal silos, develop a better flow of information which can lead to better decision making and you will have more resources available for solving problems and pursuing opportunities. This is good for business. Not just innovation.
Here you get a list of my recent posts on networking.
Three Types of Networkers and the Roadblocks for Corporate Networking
The Elevator Pitch - How to Sell Your Vision and Ideas
The Value Proposition - How to Sell Your Vision and Ideas
How to Strengthen Your Network
Every Organization Needs a Strong Networking Culture
Mastering Stakeholder Management in the Context of Innovation
Time: How to Manage Our Most Precious Resource for Better Innovation
What does your network look like? Most people are surprised. Take this quick test. Identify the five key areas for your current work. Identify the five people you interact the most with on work/career issues. Plot the matches into a chart like below. Looks for patterns / insights. Any surprises?
You can also do it with a 10 by 10 matrix if you want a better assessment.
Get in touch if you need more insights on how to develop a strong networking culture that can help transform your company and become competitively unpredictable in these uncertain times.
...and please don't forget that "things like networking and relationships" do not happen by themselves. This requires a strategic direction, training of the relevant people and the time needed to build and nurture relationships.