Originally published in Timesjobs.com on March 21, 2016 here.
To network, one should have the ability to persuade and influence outside your own direct sphere of influence, say women leaders
Neha Singh Verma, TimesJobs.com
In today’s business environment, networking – both inside and outside the organization – has become as crucial as doing your job right. No more sitting and sticking to your desk from 9 am to 5 pm will get you the growth you want. But networking will.
At a recent High-Tea session on TimesJobs, Sairee Chahal, founder and CEO of Sheroes, highlighted the benefits of networking. She said networking is important in any context. “However, it is also a two-way street. Give before you need.”
In another High-Tea session, Anuradha Srivastava, CMO, Marico, said networking is a critical asset for progress and mentioned that making a professional network is an essential tool for women to climb the success ladder. And to shape the network, one has to spend time on it.
How to network
On this, Chahal said one (women) need to constantly invest in oneself and one’s quality of support — advisors, mentors, friends and resources.
Shikha Bountra Jetley, managing director-business support services and technology at Accenture Operations, during a High-Tea session, said that to network, one should have the ability to persuade and influence outside your own direct sphere of influence, lead and inspire teams.
In the context of women leaders, she said women leaders must make a network of stakeholders and people who would be in the right roles to make decisions or impact decisions and actively engage with the stakeholders without an agenda.
Right people to network with
According to Srivastava, the right people are those who would want you to succeed. Sometimes they are your boss, sometimes a senior peer. You will only find the right people if you try and engage with the many people around you, she said.
“Make a stakeholder map of you — mom, dad, husband, and friends would be the immediate people. But what about old teachers, college mates, and seniors from school?”
Also, create some sponsorship for yourself among your team and other stakeholders including seniors, she said.
Where to start networking?
Industry forums, alumni groups and peer groups are a good place to start, said Chahal. “Join online forums; read on the go; use sources like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn besides Udacity, Coursera and Treehouse and the likes. Everything is on your phone. And you can do it.”