Times have changed. It's not what
you know, but who you know that is important. A recent article
in The New York Times describes a new breed of executive, so
new they've invented a name for them. Corporate learning Officer
or CLO. Their job? To encourage employees to share their knowledge
- to network! The growth of information and mega companies make
the task difficult. A growing number of corporations like Coca-Cola,
Cigna, Hewlett-Packard and Monsanto are hiring CLO's and paying
them salaries as high as $300,000 to $700,000. Networking is
the way of the future and you have to become plugged in and
keep your wires humming!
Your future is guaranteed if you learn to network. These Ten
Points are the way to a successful future:
1. Networking as a skill - many large organizations today are
impersonal. It is easy to get lost in a crowd. If you know how
to network, soon everyone knows you. You become a linchpin for
the company. To gain the most from your job opportunities, good
networking skills are a must!
2. Networking a hiring point - Employers may ask prospective
employees to take exams about networking, or demonstrate through
role playing their ability to network.
3. Networking part of training programs - Networking will be
recognized as an important business skill. Large and small firms
will include networking in their training programs. Some firms
already have role playing activities in which the trainee is
asked: "What would you do if...?" Networking programs
will be similar. "Where would you go to get the following
information...?"
4. Networking taught in schools - Not long ago business schools
stressed statistics, finance and economics. Now more "soft"
courses like stress management, organizational behaviour and
relationship building are being taught in class. Networking
(another name for relationship building) will become an important
part of school curriculum.
5. Networking will be more formalized - As networking becomes
a more recognized and appreciated skill, your personal networks
( church, school, hobby) will become more valuable.
6. Networking will be more specialized - Long ago we saw "unclassified
ads" soliciting everything from pets to people. Today "classified
ads" channel our needs into recognizable sectors. Networking
will become more discriminatory and specialized, classifying
leads by category. Your networks will become valuable assets
and should be listed on your resume.
7. Networking organizations will abound - Networking organizations
could be the next set of "yellow pages". By joining
specific associations you could have access to a wide variety
of information and an invaluable list of personal contacts.
Fees for use may apply and "a return on investment"
should be done before joining.
8. Networking will keep competitive businesses in business
- Strategic alliances and joint ventures will be the networking
wave of the future.
9. Networking will determine profitability - It pays to cooperate!
Remember when Macy's and Gimbal's broke tradition in Miracle
on 34th Street? By cooperating rather than competing, they had
the greatest Christmas profits ever!
10. Networking will create balance - Our professional and personal
networks will become intertwined. Good networking skills will
create a balance between the warm personal contacts and the
impersonal aspects of business. Networking will provide a strong
link between the personal and professional networks we will
need to survive in the next millennium.
Back to Media Room
|
