![\"infographic](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/leadership-networking-infographic-center-for-creative-leadership.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe book outlines 6 helpful rules for effective leadership networking:<\/p>\n Networking isn\u2019t a ploy for getting your way. If you earn a reputation as someone who takes but doesn\u2019t give, who uses information inappropriately, or who breaks confidences, your networks will shut down. Sincere, authentic leadership<\/a> is important for a healthy and collaborative workplace.<\/p>\n Having resources such as information, services, and access will facilitate your leadership networking through give-and-take. Reciprocity is important. Become skilled at resource bartering, know your assets, and share them appropriately with others up, down, and across the organization. This is a key part of successfully collaborating across boundaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n Power is the ability to get things done. You\u2019ll need 3 sources of power to build your network: your reputation, your alliances, and your position. Be the leader who gets results, can be held accountable, and has connections with key influencers or decision-makers. Understand the role of power in effective leadership<\/a> and use it wisely.<\/p>\n Communication is so important for leaders<\/a>. Communicate in a way that builds awareness of your needs and your assets. If you can\u2019t make others aware of what you can offer and what you need in order to accomplish goals, your networking strategies will be ineffective.<\/p>\n Effective negotiators know when to push hard and when to back off, when to share information and when to hold back, when to swap resources, and when to trade short-term outcomes for a long-term goal. Avoid playing hardball, and avoid being viewed as a pushover.<\/p>\n Learn skills for resolving conflict<\/a>. When conflict occurs within your network, try to appreciate the opposing view. Look for points of mutual agreement. Express your position in a way that\u2019s helpful to resolving the conflict.<\/p>\n A strong leadership network will serve you and your organization well, but it can also extend beyond the job. If you have a great reputation within your network, you have the advantage of having a solid group of contacts who can be resources if you start a job search or look to extend your professional reach.<\/p>\n In addition, the ability to understand your position in a network and the overall structure of the network impacts your leadership ability and the success of your team or organization. To boost your leadership networking skills, start with building a network perspective<\/a>.<\/p>\n To become a more effective influencer across your organization, think about strengthening and diversifying your network ties. Ask yourself 3 questions:<\/p>\n As you think about the characteristics of your network, consider the value of the ties and relationships you have \u2014 and the gaps or weaknesses that prevent you from accomplishing things that matter. With greater awareness, you can then begin to build a network that will help you achieve personal and organizational goals.<\/p>\n And if you don\u2019t feel comfortable networking, particularly if you struggle with authentic networking, check out our networking tips<\/a> to help.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that the focus of your leadership networking will change over the course of your career. Typically, during a role transition or a career shift, leaders must modify their relationships to remain effective because at each level in the organization the relationship challenges and network needs are different. For example:<\/p>\n As you work on developing yourself, and as you\u2019re steering your organization for the future, consider your own leadership networking. Do you have the right relationships and are you building the right networks to help you solve the challenges you face? Is a different combination of ties needed to access information and leverage your ideas? After you reflect on your leadership and networking skills, you can begin to make changes.<\/p>\n Upskill leadership networking skills across your entire organization with a customized learning journey for your leaders using our research-backed modules. Available leadership topics<\/a> include Authentic Leadership, Boundary Spanning<\/a>, Communication, Conflict, Influence & Selling Your Ideas, and more.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leadership networking is about developing networks to build relationships and strengthen alliances to help meet your own and your organization\u2019s goals. Discover 6 networking rules for leaders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":49603,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49601","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-authenticity","categories-boundary-spanning","categories-influence-power","categories-networks-political-skill","audience-leaders-managers","region-global","article-type-leading-effectively-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>As noted in our guidebook, Leadership Networking: Connect, Collaborate, Create,<\/em><\/a>\u00a0a robust leadership network helps provide access to people, information, and resources. It goes beyond knowing or linking to lots of different people. It’s about being able to use those connections wisely to solve problems and create opportunities.<\/p>\n1. Be sincere.<\/h4>\n
2. Share resources.<\/h4>\n
3. Use power thoughtfully.<\/h4>\n
4. Communicate skillfully.<\/h4>\n
5. Negotiate effectively.<\/h4>\n
6. Learn to manage conflict.<\/h4>\n
How to Strengthen Your Leadership Networking Skills<\/h2>\n
3 Questions to Ask to Help You Strengthen Your Leadership Networking Skills<\/h3>\n
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Networks & Leadership: Different Levels, Different Needs<\/h2>\n
Your Leadership Networking Needs Depend on Your Leader Level<\/h3>\n
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Ready to Take the Next Step?<\/h2>\n