Networking, a familiar habit that people have to master in order to succeed or succeed faster in life. It is about building relationship and rapport with the people around you. However, this is not just merely knowing someone, but understand who they are as a person and forming the deep connections from within.
Do you have a group of friends that you will always have no problem talking to even meeting like once in a blue moon? and talking topics range from work, to family issues, to your common hobby. This are the kind of healthy connections that we are talking about. It is easy to have this when you are with your peers or some groups which you have common interest with. This form of networking creates synergy and power to produce desirable effect.
What about in the work field, or when there is a senior-junior relationship? This form of rapport is highly sort after by the leader. After all, it creates the environment for mutual trust and understanding and produces a highly cohesive and productive work force.
How to go about doing that?
1) Be present. Be present at their toughest time to listen to their worries. Be present at their meal times to talk about things not related to work. Or simply just appear in their daily life. They must know who is their boss, who is the one leading them.
2) Be reasonable with your expectations. Tell them to do the things which you yourself can do. Nothing more than whatever you cannot commit.
3) Be frank. Do not pretend to form this relationship. Pretend can be felt by people. Do it with your heart, care like you really care.
Connections need time and effort to maintain, and open and frank communication can speed it up further. Spare a little of your time being with them and they will eventually open up to you and let you in to their world.
