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4. Not included? Be visible and approachable. Relationships grow when people like each other,
respect each other’s competence, and trust each other to perform as promised. Accomplished
networkers get things done because people remember them and want to work with them. You can be
knowledgeable and accomplished. But if you are rude, not helpful, too busy to listen, or just not
friendly, you’ll be bypassed. Walking around like a curmudgeon? Be someone others want to know
and work with. In meetings—smile and put others at ease. Convey openness with phrases like “I don’t
think we’ve met” or “I heard you speak this morning and wanted to introduce myself.” Smile when you
are speaking on the phone—it will create a more personal connection with the listener. Warm up your
e-mails with friendly salutations “Good morning, Joe!” and signatures “Regards”. Wish people a
happy weekend or a happy holiday. When they’re facing a personal or professional challenge, say,
“Let me know how I can help.” Be sure your e-mail signature includes your title and contact
information so they can find you easily. Be enthusiastic. Be personable.

5. Going global? Understand cultures—but don’t stereotype. The larger and more far-flung your
organization, the more important effective networking becomes. And the more likely that you will be
interacting with people of diverse nationalities located around the world. Virtual teams can include
people from many countries. You want to make good contacts and work together in the best way
possible. So prepare yourself. And open yourself to learning. If you are traveling, study the regional
and national business culture. Learn how business is conducted. How meetings are run. How the
culture views relationship vs. task. Formality vs. informality. Punctuality vs. a relaxed time frame. Put
yourself in learning mode. Ask someone who has been there. When you work across geographies,
you can appreciate differences—but don’t stereotype. Be open and respectful. Get to know people as
individuals.

Want to learn more? Take a deep dive…

Debaise, C. (2012, May 3). 7 Tips for networking. Entrepreneur.
Fitzgerald, J. (2014, January 12). Fine-tune your networking skills. The Boston Globe.
Hauer, C. (2012, June 14). Networking tips: Win friends, influence others [Video file]. Bloomberg
Businessweek.

6. Need help or information? Ask around. Information is the life’s blood of an organization. And
information on who can help you get things done is crucial. Need a resource? Work it like a
scavenger hunt. Send an e-mail to relevant people or groups. Wondering about best practices in
customer service? Need the latest thinking on a new tracking system? Get ideas across the
enterprise. Asked to work with colleagues in another country? Find someone who has been there.
People love to share their travel tips! Ask personally and send out an e-mail to your contacts to find
that key person or piece of missing information. Follow up on whatever comes your way and send a
thank you to the person who made the referral. Always be willing to return the favor when requests
come your way.

7. Forming a team? Know who does what. If you’re tasked with forming a new team or workgroup, let
your network help. Start by laying out your idea. Then create a chart of your needs. Treat this like a
staffing challenge. What levels of seniority do you need? What kinds of skills or experience? What
other criteria are important? Consider functions and geographies. How will you meet? Can you do a
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