|
Enjoying Your Work Richard Brislin |
Networking often
moves people beyond
family and friendsExecutives from various private and nonprofit organizations frequently give presentations at the University of Hawaii. These executives are often asked about advice for career development. Responses include: Join student organizations, seek out internship possibilities, volunteer for community service activities, and become more active in organizations such as your church and political party. If people follow this advice, they will increase the size of their networks and will reap positive benefits. Some people, however, don't know what a network is and don't know how it differs from family and friends.
Networks consist of people who exchange favors with each other. By calling upon network members, people increase their chances of effectiveness in their workplace. People in a network do not have to be close friends who spend much of their free time together. Their goal is to offer various types of help, and they can do this with only one or two contacts per year.
For example, assume that a person wants to learn about business opportunities in Hawaii that could form the basis for entrepreneurial ventures. If that person has a good network, she can call upon various members. One network member may know the name of a journalist who has written about small businesses in Hawaii. Another member may know business professors at the University of Hawaii who advise entrepreneurs. Another may know the names of venture capitalists looking for investment opportunities. The most effective networks have members from many different backgrounds who can offer various types of information, advice, and names of others to contact. People become involved in networks through the types of activities recommended by executives: joining various organizations, internships and working on political campaigns.
Some people in Hawaii, especially if they are from large extended families, don't feel the need to network. They already have enough aunts, uncles, cousins and old family friends to call upon when help is needed. This may be true for a few fortunate individuals. Most people, however, need to move beyond the ohana if they are to meet the lawyers, professors, physicians, politicians and businesspeople that constitute the membership of an effective network.
In addition to developing their network, people must learn about the expectations of members. People in the same network trade favors. It is enjoyable to be on the receiving end of favors, but people must learn how to offer favors when appropriate. If young professionals are fortunate enough to have senior executives in their network, how might they return favors? One way is to find out about the executives' community activities. If young professionals join and help community organizations that the executives support, they are showing their gratitude and are returning favors through their time and effort. They are also likely to increase their networks even more through the other people they will meet through voluntary efforts for these community organizations.
The purpose of this column is to increase understanding of
human behavior as it has an impact on the workplace. Given the amount
of time people spend at work, job satisfaction should ideally be high and
it should contribute to general life happiness. Enjoyment can increase as
people learn more about workplace psychology, communication, and group influences.
Richard Brislin is a professor in the College of Business Administration,
University of Hawaii. He can be reached through the
College Relations Office: cro@cba.hawaii.edu