A Harvard Business Review article by William C. Byham from the January 2009 edition strongly encourages readers to Start Networking Right Away (Even If You Hate It). To quote:
Networking is the best way to acquire crucial information
The article is a short worthwhile read, mainly highlighting internal networking in organisations. Still, the three suggested immediate actions apply equally well when networking externally.
Here’s what Byhan suggests you do right away:
- Figure out who should be in your network
- Dare to introduce yourself
- Remember that networking is not a one-way street
If you are an intranet or web manager, the importance of dedicating more time to networking in the current economic climate may seem obvious. Your budget for professional development, including conferences and analyst reports may well have been cut, forcing you to consider popular tools like Facebook, LinkedIn and XING, These can indeed be quite helpful in making connections and staying in touch.
Most senior managers do take networking seriously, but it is certainly not something that is only valuable exclusively at the top of the organisational ladder. Networking enables you to learn from others to avoid mistakes, while providing ideas for your projects and feedback on your current challenges. As the article concludes:
Time spent in the early days building a network will save time down the road when you’re trying to solve problems, leverage resources, and achieve success.
NB: If you are concerned about loosing your job, networking can also provide you with some useful contacts.
J. Boye » Blog Archive » Vendors vs. system integrators - whom to trust? April 20th, 2009 23:20
[...] As always, the best way to minimize your risk is to build on your own skill set and exchange experiences with other customers. You may not be in a position to decide whether sufficient skills can be added to your web team, but you can always reach out and talk to other customers. [...]