Stepping into the role of leadership, entrepreneurship or simply that sudden point in your career often challenges you to rethink networking, the expanse of your circle of influence, and the role you play in building these associations.

Networking is about creating a fabric of personal contacts that will provide support, feedback, insight, resources, and information—but this is often one of the most avoided developmental challenges and that aspiring leaders are required to address.

Managers generally have good working relationships with the people who help them do their jobs. These ‘operational networks’ include superiors and peers within an organisation including people outside the company like suppliers, distributors and customers.  This type of networking evolves naturally as it ensures coordination and cooperation among people who have to know and trust one another in order to accomplish their immediate tasks.

This style of networking is largely prescribed by the position and company structure in which one operates.  Relationships are largely developed around the task one is required to perform.  Although they do offer an opportunity for one to develop deeper relationships with managers we often find ourselves moving on the next project and then those new formed relationships demand a different set of priorities.

However, as a manager moving into a leadership role or owning your own business, his or her networks need a more future orientated and strategic approach toward the future.

Develop a Strategic Approach to Networking

Aspiring leaders need to clearly define their goals. Entrepreneurs and leaders are more focused toward strategic issues and it these kinds of strategic relationships, within companies and outside, that can begin to build the profile of a leader.  Time spent on networking changes from time wasted to time well invested – an investment which will promote personal and professional goals.

POWER OF STAKE HOLDER

Some leaders realise the dependence or influence of others as necessary to transform their environment, whilst others label it as ‘political games.’  True transitioning to a powerful leader is when you develop an strong ability to gain support, resources and information from broad sectors of your networks enabling you to reach success.

Leaders realise that they hold the power to shape their environment, when they have a powerfully focussed team of stake holders actively supporting their vision, even if it means restructuring the board of directors.MENTORS AND COACHING

By broadening ones contacts you can purposefully connect with people who will give you information and support and become powerful mentors or coaches for your career.

Tony Robbins, a success coach dedicated to helping people achieve their dreams says that one of the keys to being highly successful is having a mentor.  He implores us to join with the ranks of those people, who live what they teach, who walk their talk.  He calls leaders to search for models of excellence and seek result-oriented mentors who can help you build your career and produce the life you desire.

By building strong focused networks we are able to connect powerful people or be introduced to influences who can lead us further along the road of success.

TIME CONSUMING

How time is consumed in your day is any leaders challenge and what is important is that you challenge your belief system.  That you move from an operation ROI approach to understanding the value of having a strong strategic network in place which will help you to grow in stature and transform your career.  If you look at the bigger picture of leadership and influence one can begin to understand the necessity of networking and build it into your weekly priority list

BUILDING A LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Forbes magazine says that building a leadership network is less a matter of skill and using the digital tools available which they detail in their article 5 Tools For Developing Your Business Network.

When we broaden our networks we broaden our thinking and not only do we connect with people who can help us along our way, we learn, grow and are given opportunities to experience the rewards of giving to others and watching them grow.

We need to challenge ourselves to move beyond the structural networks created by day to day operations and shift to strategic alliances which can support and serve our purpose.

Today there are so many networks across all sectors globally which we can at a click of a button participate in and benefit from.  Entrepreneurs must accept that networking is one of the most important requirements of their business and that definite time needs to be allocated to this part of their success strategy.