Networks and Networking

What You Can Learn from Your Employee Networks

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Employee Resource Group network in a meeting
Employee Resource Groups provide ways for employees to connect with people like them. But do they produce results?

Employee resource groups (ERGs) provide a place for women, veterans, LGBT employees, people of color, people with disabilities, working parents, and others to connect and help ensure the workplace welcomes and supports their productivity. Yet even though the number of ERGs has taken off, companies seldom assess these groups’ success.

We know that the activities associated with ERGs have general value. Networking, for example, is linked (pdf) to an increase in promotions and in compensation, to greater career satisfaction, and to salary growth. Mentoring also yields demonstrated benefits: People with mentors are more likely to receive promotions and salary increases (pdf).

How to Create Live Maps of Conference Connections

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Connection Conference Format Image

Have you ever been frustrated trying to find the person you needed at a busy conference? I recently use a new tool called sumApp to map conference connections in real time. sumApp’s founder, Christine Capra, interviewed me about the experience. Here’s a lightly edited version of that interview, written by Christine and cross-posted from her blog.

Maya was recently engaged to speak at the Annual Convention of the Ohio Association of County Boards for Developmental Disabilities (OACB). She was invited by Adam Herman, OACB’s Communications Director, who had heard her speak about networks.

Every county in Ohio has a board that funds and oversees services for people with developmental disabilities.

Networking Myths Busted!

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networking myths screen shot

The New Networking, a project of Partnering Resources, is busting traditional networking myths!

Networking Myth #1: My Network is Terrible

Do you think you have a terrible network? You probably don’t. Watch our to bust the first myth of networking: that out networks are hopelessly inadequate.

Networking Myth #2: Lots of Business Cards –> Lots of Success

Do you measure your success based on the number of business cards you collect at a networking event? Sorry, that’s just not the way to go. Our second video busts the business card myth and tells you what you really need to do to be successful.

Announcing The New Networking

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The New Networking Logo

It’s because networking, as we know it, was created for extroverts and salespeople. For most of us, pressing the flesh in a crowded room of strangers, feels awkward and unsuccessful. Luckily, there’s a better way.

For years, my colleagues at Partnering Resources and I have been helping people learn new, sustainable ways of developing their networks. We base our work on current research and findings about networks and translate them into usable, actionable practices. Now, we’ve launched a new website designed to help introverts, busy people, and others learn to network successfully.

The New Networking

The New Networking contains a treasure chest of goodies for people seeking to reinvent their networking practices.

New Leadership Tools: Finding Direction through Network Maps: Mini Case #1

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Network Maps as Leadership Tools - Star Performer Expertise

Companies create organization charts that show hierarchies and reporting relationships. But work rarely gets done as it appears on an org chart. Instead, people operate through networks: informal webs of relationships that people instinctively form in the workplace.

Traditionally, leaders have used organization charts to understand their boundaries and spheres of influence. Network maps provide new and helpful information about how people actually perform work, make decisions, and solve problems. Network thinking and network maps can help leaders gain a holistic perspective and uncover unseized opportunities, identify lurking risks, and address unarticulated needs.

In this series, we look at how several different leaders used network knowledge to advance their company’s strategy.

NEW ARTICLE: Transform Your Network with Three Simple Practices

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CW Blog Post Photo - Transform Your Network

Would you rather go to the dentist than to a networking event? If so, then this article is for you.

Here’s an excerpt from our recently published article, “Transform Your Network with Three Simple Practices,” on Communication World:

Networking is considered a professional necessity. Conventional wisdom states that if we don’t build and sustain our networks properly, we’ll lose out on opportunities like promotions, new jobs, and important information.

The bad news: The conventional wisdom is right. The good news: Most of us are networking all wrong. Read on for three simple practices to transform your networking experience.

To transform your networking practice, read the Communication World article now.

New Case Studies: How to Use Networks Strategically

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Network maps make the invisible world of organizational transactions, relationships, and knowledge flows visible. But what can they actually accomplish for an organization?

We recently published two case studies based on our work with clients. Each case study shows how one client used network knowledge to advance their strategy.

Case Study #1: Using Network Mapping to Globalize an Organization

In 2013, a new leader was hired to transform the Public & Governmental Affairs (PGA) division into a truly global organization. The leader realized that PGA needed to operate as a network. She used network thinking to guide development in the organization.

4 Steps to Getting to Yes

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Entrepreneurs are always asking. We ask for resources, ideas, funding, partnerships, and so many other things. Our success depends on our ability to ask successfully. This post, recently published on Inc.com, reviews four steps to acing your next ask and getting to yes.

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