|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
It is not unheard of for people who are supposedly less competent or less skilful to rise faster within an organization or in other subtle ways, get more benefits than others. We have also seen how the connections men make can quickly get them to leadership positions, but some women are also beginning to tow this line even though some gender difference may exist. Female leaders who rise quickly, beyond their skills are doing something different from the men and even other women.
When we think networking, it usually feels transactional. There is a lot of undue pressure to say the right things because we do not want to miss the chance of figuring out what we can get from talking to these people. It is however more important now to build relationships that benefit our careers and businesses. So many decisions that happen behind closed doors will only benefit you if people are aware that you have diverse interests. Because women are very relational in their interactions, if we let relationships grow organically, we tend to interact a lot more with people who are like us. It, therefore, becomes extremely important to build boundary-spanning relationships where you are intentionally connecting with people in diverse pockets of the organization or the industry. Relating only with people in your field is a pitfall that should be avoided, you should be connected across departments, functions, and areas of expertise. Especially as entrepreneurs, sometimes just one short conversation with someone who is in marketing or handles branding can make a lot of difference to your business needs at the time. As women, we must begin to become more thoughtful and strategic about building networks and encouraging interactions that can help take us to the next level.
When your network is broader, you will get slightly different opinions on the work that you do and the problem areas that you face periodically. These different diverse perspectives give you a better bird’s eye view of the issue, and hence may help you make higher-quality decisions. This also keeps you in touch with new information because you are frequently getting new perspectives. Research shows that people who have more boundary spanning in their networks get more promotions, make more money, and usually get more opportunities.
As we wind down this very unprecedented year 2020, it is time to begin to re-strategize and envision new opportunities. Take a critical look at your network, and begin to observe the similarities, and notice where the gaps are. What part is underrepresented? What is missing in your network? Age, skill sets, gender, hierarchy?
READ ALSO: FG blames Covid, #EndSARS protest for disruption in cement production, price increase
One of the things that have come out of the pandemic is that people have become more open to asking for recommendations for roles and other opportunities within their networks. It is, therefore, the time to begin to manage your networks and nurture relationships that you may have lost contact with, begin to seed these relationships in ways that when people need help or see opportunities, you may be suggested as the right person to talk to. Your next steps should then become how to position yourself to interact with people who can help close the gaps you have noticed.
Growing your network is beyond attending networking events and preparing elevator pitches that help you make that killer first impression or collect the complimentary cards of almost everyone who attended the event. Sometimes it’s really not a great use of time especially for introverts where these events can seem like a nightmare. You will be better off taking up an activity that may fit your areas of interests, an activity that involves you working or interacting with people, or maybe even volunteering in roles outside your expertise. You get to meet new people, and learn new skills, it is a win-win for you.
Networking should be less about being transactional, with the intention of needing something from the person eventually, but more about trying to find people you may like who are in worlds other than you. When the focus is on being curious about the people you meet, and networking with people you like, then it is much more interesting. It is more about being opened to meeting new people and avoiding the tendency to always do things with the people you are familiar with. It is about being that person who pulls people towards themselves and constantly energizes other people, the easiest way to do this is to exude positivity.
A study by Kellogg School of Management reports that 77% of the highest achieving women in the study had strong ties with other women who can share career advise as against women who did not have that kind of support system. Networking should not be regarded as a future opportunity to manipulate other people but to encourage us to consider building real, authentic relationships.
Weyinmie is a development expert with special focus on Gender, Financial Inclusion and Enterprise Development. She has over 8 years working experience across several sectors – oil and gas, extractive sector, not for profit management, leadership, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She is the founder of Wevvo Nigeria, a resource and community-based platform that supports single female breadwinners.
Weyinmi Eribo is a trained geologist with Quality health safety and environment (QHSE) expertise, an enterprise development consultant, and a gender advisor with several years of experience across the oil and gas industry, extractive sector, health and safety, not-for-profit management, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Weyinmie is an entrepreneur and founder of Wevvo Nigeria, a resource and community-based platform that supports single female breadwinners by providing access to finance, enterprise development, mentoring and a community to thrive.
Weyinmie is a StartingBloc social innovation fellow and Regional Chair, West Africa Alumni, a World Bank Scholar and a Cherie Blair Foundation Mentee Alumni. She is also an Alumni of the Enterprise Development Centre, with a certificate in Non-profit leadership and management from Lagos Business School. Her goal is to leverage her experience in providing value on projects and ensuring sustainability for interventions, particularly those that create jobs and stimulate business opportunities that can alleviate poverty in disadvantaged communities with special focus on women.
