– Networking and Influence

Your climb up the ladder of success has been furthered because of your drive, determination, and focus. Yet the same head-down, nose-to-the-grindstone mentality that got you ahead, won’t take you all the way to the top.  What will?  Two things:  Fostering and Furthering. 

When it comes to relationships, effective leaders recognize the importance of fostering and furthering.  Fostering new relationships broadens a leader’s personal connection with others.  Furthering established relationships keeps those same connections relevant and fresh. Working in tandem, the two maintain a leader’s credibility and influence throughout the organization.     

According to Sue Bethanis, Founder/CEO of Mariposa Leadership, Inc., “The impact of networking is a logical progression. It connects leaders to their company, the more connected leaders are, the more positive influence they can exert.”   She goes on to add that, “Wise leaders know that their ability to instill trust and achieve desired results is directly related to their ability to network successfully.”

Bethanis, author of Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage, shares three keys to developing your networking skills and increasing your sphere of influence:

• Get good at small talk.
• Don’t just be ‘influential’; be ‘influence-able’ (open minded) as well.
• Balance your skills at advocating your position with your exquisite inquiry skills.

The more you truly “get” others and they “get” you, the more effective your work relationships will be.  The relationships you forge today will be the ones you rely on tomorrow!