{"id":5832,"date":"2011-01-16T15:54:39","date_gmt":"2011-01-16T22:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=5832"},"modified":"2011-01-16T15:54:39","modified_gmt":"2011-01-16T22:54:39","slug":"networking-is-a-risk-mitigation-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=5832","title":{"rendered":"Networking IS a Risk Mitigation Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Know the people you label "stakeholders"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The difference between success and failure for project manager is a thin line.\u00a0 One delay can have profound impact on delivery commitments.\u00a0 Mitigating future risks becomes a whole lot easier when you have a network of professionals both internally and externally to the organization to leverage for a solution.\u00a0 Building a comprehensive network is more vital in today\u2019s dynamic environment than ever before, so let\u2019s explore the three core reasons why you and others are investing time for networking \u2026<\/p>\n

a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To Learn<\/p>\n

b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To Solve Problems<\/p>\n

c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To Build relationships<\/p>\n

The first TO LEARN is the easiest to satisfy because it\u2019s a passive activity.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s attending a professional convention or learning about competitor news at the water cooler we are always looking for a piece of knowledge that can make a difference.\u00a0 We can learn from ANY individual we meet (if we so choose) and it\u2019s as simple as asking the right question.\u00a0 The trickier question is What Do You Want to Learn?<\/strong> In addition to collecting intellectual content, we can also choose to learn about individuals within our network.\u00a0 Key insights into a critical stakeholder\u2019s interests, background, hot buttons or decision criteria can be invaluable in building trust and adding value.\u00a0 We might even choose to learn more about ourselves if we\u2019re interested in improving our skills.\u00a0 My suggestion is also to switch the learning question around to reflect on What<\/strong> Do You Have To Share For Those Interested In Learning?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TO SOLVE PROBLEMS is the real<\/span> reason project managers network, \"\"<\/a>because we all have endless laundry list of problems to be solved now or future risks to mitigate.\u00a0 Of course there is the small subset of \u201cknow it alls\u201d that don\u2019t want help finding faster, cheaper, or more creative answers (that would take all the fun out of it for them).\u00a0 This desire to solve current problems is what should be driving your desire to invest time networking both internally and externally.\u00a0 If you find you\u2019re not getting much assistance, then it\u2019s probably because you having done your pre-work assignment.\u00a0 You didn\u2019t know networking has homework?\u00a0 What rock do you live under?\u00a0 Master networkers realize the age old truth, you must give before you receive.\u00a0 No time to help others?\u00a0 Be serious.\u00a0 There are an infinite number of opportunities to add value by helping others solve their problems big and small without a big time investment.\u00a0 The reward is a form of internalized \u201ccredit\u201d known as reciprocity.\u00a0 Even sharing a connection that brings them one step closer to an answer can reap similar rewards if done authentically because we feel a higher degree of trust with individuals who demonstrate care for our well being.\u00a0\u00a0 By asking questions, you can quickly learn how to add specific value to ANY individual you meet.<\/strong> Help them solve their problem(s) and you have increased the value of that relationship\u2026<\/p>\n

TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS is the long term reason we network that links directly back to the first two reasons.\u00a0 Building relationships (and more importantly, reciprocity<\/span> with these individuals) provides a network that can streamline the learning and solution process for both you and them.\u00a0 Inherent to these mutually beneficial relationships that evolve from networking is an elevated level of trust.\u00a0 That trust varies based on which of its 4 tenants \u2013 sincerity, competence, reliability and care \u2013 that we regularly demonstrate.\u00a0 Hit on all four over an extended period of time and you have a connection that will seek you out to find answers or drop what they are doing to help.\u00a0 What types of people do you want part of your long term network? \u00a0In addition to your current set of stakeholders, start identifying the gatekeepers, high potentials on the fast track, new leaders joining the company and subject matter experts to include in your network.\u00a0 Then schedule time to systematically add value and build trust with these individuals so the relationships \u00a0prosper, because who knows when you\u2019ll REALLY need their assistance next.<\/p>\n

So your REAL reason to network is to help others learn, find solutions and build relationships.\u00a0 The surprising result will be that you end up with more knowledge, solutions and relationships than you could have ever imagined.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The difference between success and failure for project manager is a thin line.\u00a0 One delay can have profound impact on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-miscellaneous"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}