One of the four behaviors of people who "play politics" in a positive way (as identified by researchers at the University of Florida) is networking. Because I spend a lot of time giving keynotes on networking, I'd like to offer a new perspective on the topic.  Two Types of Networking If you are in sales, or are job seeking, then it's a no-brainer: networking should play a key part in your outreach strategy. Connection-making if this sort is external networking. See my blog posts, "What Savvy Networkers Know" and "What's Your Networking Style?" for tips on how to network outside your organization.  Even if your job rarely requires you to interact outside your company walls, you still need to know how to network. That's where internal networking comes into play. Internal networking is when you reach out to colleagues within your organization, even if your job doesn't require you to do so. It's going beyond your normal scope of job responsibilities.  Being an internal networker means you are looking outside your immediate, day-to-day activities and thinking about how you can connect with and create value for others in your company.  Many of the same principles apply for both external and internal networking, but there's a nuance to the internal process that's unique. Let's explore why it's important to distinguish between the two types of networking.  What Makes Internal Networking Different? It comes down to mindset: People have expectations about what various job roles "should" be. For example, people expect outside sales reps and job seekers to be making phone calls and attending industry functions. It's seen as a required part of their daily work.  With internal networking, however, the mindset shifts. People are a bit more leery of employees and leaders who seek connections beyond their daily scope. These activities are often perceived as "sucking up" or "playing politics".  The differentiator, as my fellow blogger Jane Perdue of the Braithewaite Group, a female-owned executive consulting group, points out about positive office politics is that effective internal networkers are those who are always going for the win-win. They create connections because they believe that reaching out to others will help all involved, including the company.  How Can I Improve My Internal Networking? The first thing you need to do is a quick mental audit: What's my mindset on internal networking? If you're still stuck in the mentality of "networking is for kiss-ups," then the tips below won't help.
Think internal networking is for suck-ups? Not so. It's a critical skill for those vying to help others, the company and themselves.