April 27, 2021
You, like many people, may feel dread in hearing the word “networking.” You are not alone, according to one study from Harvard Business School, people feel gross about networking being pushed by their superiors because of the feeling of how transactional it can be. That same study showed, however, that people do feel good about organic (or self-initiated) networking. Networking can be good for not just you as an individual but also good for your department and organization.
As vaccinations are increasing around the country, you might have thought about how or when you will return to the office. For some government workers, they are not going back to the office and are instead going 100% online. For others, going back to the office will be a strange adjustment. Some co-workers might not be back as they moved on from the office and other co-workers you will be meeting for the first time in person because they were hired during the pandemic.
One of the lessons learned through our PPE Procurement During COVID-19 research report was that past relationships between the procurement office and the other offices made a difference in the procurement office’s response to the pandemic. In going back to the office, whatever that looks like to you, networking will be key in the next emergency and moving forward in a hybrid work from home/regular office system.
Harvard Business Review recommends to readers to switch their mindset:
Those who study government networks break them down into 3 types. Think about your network through these types.
Do not be afraid to initiate networking on your own! Especially if you are working remote for the long term, self-initiation will be important. The importance of networking became apparent throughout the crisis and as the pandemic moves to a new stage, you will have to learn to adapt to the new way of working.
Read some more resources on networking: