Networking Know-how: Essential Strategies for Savvier Connections
In today's dynamic business landscape, understanding the network structure within an organization is crucial for fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and driving success.
What is Network Structure?
Network structure, in a professional context, refers to the design and configuration of relationships and communication channels among individuals and teams within an organization [1][5]. This structure defines how members connect, communicate, and collaborate to achieve common goals.
The Importance of Network Structure
Network structures play a pivotal role in driving effective collaboration, supporting autonomous and cross-functional teamwork, fostering adaptability to changes, and enabling innovation [1][5]. In a network organization, decentralized teams assess tasks, create strategies, and execute plans collaboratively, leading to rapid problem-solving and innovation [1].
Organizational Misfits: The Unsung Heroes
Organizational misfits are individuals who don't fit the typical trajectory of the corporate status quo. These individuals, often referred to as zig-zaggers, are able to make more connections and see the overall network of the organization better than most ladder-climbers [6]. Research suggests that these misfits are the ones who get promoted the most often [7].
The Role of Brokers
Brokers are individuals who find connections and opportunities across communities. They are at a higher risk of having good ideas and are instrumental in meldling different groups within a network [8].
The Impact of Network Learning
Studies have shown that understanding network structures, such as the concept of social capital, can significantly improve an individual's performance and career prospects [3]. In a study conducted by Ronald Burt, executives who learned about network structures were more likely to get promoted [4].
Action Steps
To leverage the power of network structures, consider the following action steps:
- Audit your network, writing down your top 12 network contacts and drawing arrows between those who know each other.
- Champion your community by surveying for advice to find diversity in solutions.
- Be an organizational misfit. Deliberately use your unique skillset to meet new people, strike up conversations with people in different departments, and volunteer to be on a project on another team.
- Avoid social scripts, break the habit of asking "What do you do?", and go deeper with your current connections to bring out the multiplex ties.
- Make a list of 10 people you feel like you only know in one context and set a coffee or lunch date to ask them about what they do for fun, personal passions, and hobbies.
- Host Mastermind dinners to build your network. Invite a smaller group of people (6-12), encourage your guests to be a part of a creative process, and slow down to have longer, more meaningful conversations.
By embracing the concept of network structures and becoming an organizational misfit, you can unlock new opportunities, foster innovation, and drive success in your career.
- Pursuing a career in today's business landscape requires not only a strong understanding of finance and business but also education and self-development in the area of network structure, as it can significantly improve an individual's performance and career prospects.
- To foster innovation and promote personal growth, one may consider adopting a broker role, finding connections and opportunities across communities, as these individuals are more likely to have good ideas and are instrumental in melding different groups within a network.
- In the context of career advancement, it's beneficial to adopt an organizational misfit mindset, deliberately using unique skills to meet new people, cross departments, and voluntarily join projects in other teams, as research suggests these individuals are often the ones who get promoted the most.
