Networking

The ability to develop and maintain relations, alliances and coalitions within and outside the organization and to use them in order to obtain information, support and cooperation.

communicates with his contacts on a regular basis
goes to meetings dedicated to networking
is actively interested in other people
takes initiative to find new contacts
actively works on building a (social) network

contacts other people regularly in order to maintain his/her network
has several contacts within the organization at his/her disposal that can be called upon regularly
contacts others actively for information, support or cooperation
uses contacts made during seminars, trainings, congresses and other social events
is active in making and maintaining contacts
relies on several contacts within the organization regularly

cooperates regularly with colleagues from other departments, focusing on a specific problem
brings other people in contact with each other, introduces them to each other
looks for cooperation with internal and external partners on the basis of mutual interest
actively looks for colleagues from other departments for information and expertise
contacts other departments if this is relevant to both parties
uses his/her network (e.g. for information) to support his/her work

looks beyond cultural differences and other barriers in his/her search for useful contacts
establishes contacts with other departments in order to increase the chance of his/her own project succeeding (cooperation, support)
uses his/her network (e.g. for information) to support his/her work
involves others in his/her professional networks and stimulates them to expand these
engages others in creating a broader basis so that the organization can achieve its goals in a better manner
systematically searches for people who could play a role in expanding his/her influential network
is cooperative and trustworthy, uses his/her network without manipulating it

Networking can be easily developed if the candidate has a more than average score (7,8,9) on the drives Sociability & contact and Social empathy.

How do you use LinkedIn and which new, active contacts have you encountered there?
Are you a sociable person? Could you give examples that show you are sociable?
When did you last make contact with someone you did not know? What kind of relationship do you have with that person now?
Have you met any new people over the last few months? What did you do in order to meet these people?
How do you keep your network updated and active?

Join a professional network such as LinkedIn.
Go to promotions, receptions, anniversaries or other social gatherings.
Try and observe other people’s natural ways of communicating; see if there is anything you could copy from them.
Adjust the use of your language and pace of speech to the person you talk to.
Make eye contact with your audience; make sure you interact regularly.

Ensure that your candidate realizes what it costs him to help others, share knowledge, or ask others for help and what he gains from doing so.
Advice your candidate to go to places where people meet, look at their behavior and try and imitate such behavior.
Ensure that your candidate is not overly critical about himself or about what he says in public. Try to increase his self-confidence and resilience.
If your candidate considers himself to be a loner, explain how that could be a disadvantage both to him/her and to the organization.
Ask the candidate to reflect on situations in which he does NOT approach others. What is stopping him from doing so?
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