by Judy Austin

When people hear “Networking” most immediately think of attending external activities; Chamber events, membership meetings and black tie fundraisers.  Rarely do professionals consider the importance of Internal Networking with those inside their own office walls.

Yet, every employee within an organization represents their own network of endless relationships simply waiting to be discovered.   

Whether you work with a small company or large corporation, invest the time to get to know your fellow associates.  From the receptionist to the CEO, everyone possesses key relationships.  You never know who someone went to school with, is related to or worked with in a prior career.   

Be proactive and sincere in learning about your co-workers and connect the dots on how your relationships could help them and where their contacts could help you.  Begin building your internal network at all levels with both your peers and superiors.

What can you do to build such relationships? 

Some ideas:

• Eat in the company break room
• Invite others to go to lunch together
• Take your boss to lunch
• Find a mentor within your company
• Organize a company sports team
• Start a regular happy hour group
• Coordinate a company picnic

By creating opportunities to interact outside the office, you will get to know the person not just their title. Not only will your work environment be a more pleasant and rewarding experience, but you will ultimately find hidden treasures.

Making it Happen:

From the corporate perspective, larger institutions such as banks and professional firms often struggle to foster internal relationships among professionals across departments in order to better serve clients and cross sell services.  For such a culture to thrive, employees must be afforded opportunities to develop strong internal relationships based on mutual trust. Unless professionals can forge relationships, they will always remain reluctant and fearful to share their clients and open up those relationship to others.  Those organizations whom are able to successfully establish this environment reap the long term rewards of teamwork and collaboration. 

How else would you uncover that Alan in accounting grew up with the CEO of your hottest prospect?

Proven tactics:

• Inter-departmental events
• Company socials/outings
• Company directory with headshots and bios
• Recognition & Awards banquets
• Formal networking opportunities
• Networking training with cross section of all departments
• Company newsletter spotlighting several employees
• Form a diverse committee to plan events

A few tips:  At events, always assign seating arrangements to enable people to sit with those they do not know and strive to deliver training sessions which include multiple departments or disciplines.  

Make a concerted and sustained initiative to promote employees working and socializing together.  Provide opportunities for them to interact both inside and out of the office so relationships can form beyond the cubicle. 

In today’s hyper competitive landscape, those organizations that embrace and understand the power of internal relationships unleash an incredible force to enhance teamwork, reduce turnover and most importantly expand a company’s circle of influence!