Career experts often view peer networking or maintaining good relations with colleagues, superiors, clients, suppliers and other associates within and outside the organisation, as an important means to fuel career growth.

This is because networking with peers helps in the creation of good will and camaraderie that you can bank on when the need arises.

Today, virtual teams, outsourcing and flatter organisational structures are making it imperative for you to get things done through people over whom you have no formal authority.

In this setting it becomes much easier to move forward with your requests if the people you must approach are already well known to you.

Cultivating a diverse and extensive peer network offers several other benefits too. Your association with peers across the organisation increases your visibility and insights into the bigger organisational picture. You can learn and adopt more effective leadership styles and decision-making techniques practised by your colleagues.

The emotional support you receive from your peers helps you to cope with work pressures and challenges better.

Their support enables you to share your workload in times of need. It also helps you to effortlessly transition into new roles.

If you are not already active in peer networking, here are some clues to proceed in the right direction and enjoy these benefits:

First, make a list of people who are part of your formal organisation structure such as your colleagues, superiors within and outside your department, customers and suppliers with whom you are expected to deal as part of your job requirements. Then, take initiative to establish good working relations with all of them.

Ask your boss to introduce you to other colleagues and managers whom you don’t know.

Occasionally going out for lunch or dinner with your peers will certainly help in maintaining the relations that you have cultivated.

Informal network or contact with colleagues, mentors, and friends within your industry with whom you share advice and support is equally important too. Make use of various opportunities provided by your organisation to interact with other employees with whom you do not have formal work relationships. Social events, seminars and training programmes bring you into contact with employees working at various locations or in different departments and organisations.

Make it a point to spend some time every week contacting different members of this network. Keep exchanging news items or information of mutual interest with them.

Personal networks comprising of family members, friends and relatives act as a support mechanism and offer advice, guidance and solace when you need them most.

Keep in touch with them by making occasional phone calls, sending emails or greetings.

While developing and maintaining networks you must understand that all relations are exchange oriented.

Help your friends to progress in their careers. They will surely recip

You can also strengthen your network relations by demonstrating honesty and integrity.

Always keep the promises that you have made in order to win the trust and respect of your peers.

Sorting out any differences that may arise through open dialogue helps in building and sustaining productive relations across the network.

Frequent consultation and advice taking from the members of the network helps you to build vital support and buy in for your initiatives.

When you seek the inputs of people who matter, they are more likely to feel engaged in your concept and endorse their support.

Another way of building coalition is to understand the interests and values of people in your network. It helps you to strike common ground with them.

Shared interests make people to like you and also make them favourably inclined towards supporting and helping you.

Developing peer networks is usually time consuming but the effort is well worth it. The benefits that follow infuse fresh energy into your professional life and also help you scale new heights in your career.

published on the Hindu
http://www.hinduonnet.com

Thanks and Regards
Vinay Guntaka