Here's how you can network effectively within your own organization as a project manager.

1. Beyond Work Chats: Engage in casual conversations about interests and experiences. 2. Genuine Curiosity: Show interest in their roles and goals, building connections. 3. Trust & Respect: These are the cornerstones of strong work relationships.

- Consistent Communication: Keep open and transparent lines of communication with your team and stakeholders. - Empathy and Support: Understand and support your team’s challenges and career goals, fostering a collaborative environment.

As a project manager, you can network effectively within your organization by actively engaging with colleagues across departments. Attend internal meetings, social events, and training sessions to build rapport and foster relationships. Regularly communicate with team members to understand their roles, challenges, and perspectives. Leverage collaboration tools and platforms to stay connected and share updates. Show appreciation for their contributions and offer assistance when needed. By being approachable, actively listening, and showing genuine interest in others' work, you can create a supportive network that enhances collaboration and drives project success.

1. Attend Internal Events: Participate in company meetings, workshops, and social gatherings. 2. Engage with Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate with teams from different departments to build relationships. 3. Leverage Communication Tools: Use internal platforms like Slack, Yammer, or Teams to connect with colleagues. 4. Seek Mentorship: Find mentors within the organization to gain insights and expand your network. 5. Share Your Successes: Communicate your achievements and project milestones to highlight your contributions.

Being a Project Manager requires you to work with diverse teams from different backgrounds. It's a great opportunity at work where you can form inter-departmental connections which helps you understand the overall goal of your organization. While you're the PM, you're the focal point for every project you're owning, this gives you an extensive networking opportunity to work with both mid and senior-level leadership. Facilitating all project stakeholders can be a rewarding process, giving you a sense of collaboration and fulfillment at work, which always comes in handy when you're forming strong relationships.

Project managers spend most of their time communicating. Their key role is to create the best environment for the team, remove barriers, and pave the way for success. This is impossible without organizational support. Organizations are made of people, so the PM must build alliances. These alliances, based on trust and mutual benefit, can become long-lasting relationships. I worked 13 years in the same company, with over 70% of my network there. After leaving construction and returning 4 years later, this network was essential for my return. Everyone I helped and built alliances with remembered me, facilitating my reintegration.

->Allies can provide valuable support, resources, and guidance to help navigate the organizational landscape. They can provide advice, guidance, and assistance in overcoming obstacles in projects. ->Allies can advocate for the individual within the organization by promoting their ideas, projects, and accomplishments. Having allies that believe in the individual's work can enhance their credibility and influence. ->Additionally, allies can provide opportunities for personal and professional growth within the organization through recommendations for new projects, promotions, and training programs.

1. Identify Potential Allies Look for individuals who hold influential positions or have decision-making authority within the organization. 2. Build Connections Reach out to potential allies with a friendly introduction, explaining your role and expressing interest in their work. 3. Foster Mutual Benefits Regularly seek their input and advice on your projects. This shows that you value their expertise and helps build a reciprocal relationship. 4. Maintain and Strengthen Alliances Maintain regular communication with your allies through meetings, emails, or casual check-ins.

⇨ ⇨Always seek feedback from leaders and be open to their suggestions. Use their input to refine and improve your projects. ✅Most importantly, getting to build rapport can create a foundation of trust and mutual respect, making it easier to secure their support in the future.

Stakeholder management is one the key aspects of Project Management. Leaders in projects are usually the ones who may or may not have "High Interest" but they for sure have "High Authority". You need to keep them engaged with key developments and secure their buy-in at every stage of the project (assuming the project is always kicked off and signed off already). High Power & Interest: Engage Actively (10x) Less Power & Interest: Less Engagement High Power & Less Interest: High Engagement Less Power & High Interest: Engage Mildly

->Engaging with leadership can provide the necessary support and resources to successfully complete a project. Leaders have the authority to allocate resources and make strategic decisions that can remove obstacles to progress. ->By involving leaders in networking efforts, one can gain a better understanding of organizational goals, priorities, and expectations, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic direction. ->Engaging with leaders can help gain buy-in from key stakeholders and support for the project, overcoming resistance, securing resources, and fostering collaboration among team members.

1. Prepare Thoroughly Familiarize yourself with the company’s strategic goals, vision, and current priorities. 2. Approach with Confidence Identify the key leaders and decision-makers relevant to your project. 3. Communicate Effectively Tailor your message to the interests and concerns of the specific leader you are engaging with. 4. Demonstrate Commitment and Value Highlight your past achievements and successes to build credibility and trust. 5. Build Ongoing Relationships Provide regular updates on the progress of your project. This keeps leaders informed and engaged.

Participating in organising events, especially educational ones like young professional schools, can be incredibly beneficial. It shows you’re proactive, boosts your skills, and increases your visibility within the organisation. By getting involved, you not only learn and grow but also build a strong network of project managers and other professionals. This hands-on experience can open doors to new opportunities and really boost your career. This is exactly how I've built my network of project managers, leading to better collaborations and career growth.

->Attending events such as team meetings, project kick-off parties, or company-wide gatherings allows project managers to interact and build relationships with their peers. ->Networking at events can help project managers understand the perspectives, challenges, and strengths of their team members. ->Events provide a platform for project managers to learn from the experiences and expertise of their colleagues. ->Networking at events allows project managers to showcase their skills, achievements, and contributions to the organization. ->Building strong professional relationships through networking at events can help project managers establish trust, credibility, and mutual respect with their colleagues.

Project Management is all about being a "Generalist". You carry most of the knowledge about most of the things. Start an "Open Source" initiative in your organization where you're sharing your knowledge across departments and teams. You can bridge the gap by sharing best practices you've observed in any particular project you owned. Be the person everyone refers to when they say, 'I know someone who can help with this.'

->Sharing knowledge within your organization as a project manager is important for networking effectively because it helps build trust and credibility with your colleagues. ->Additionally, sharing knowledge can help your team members better understand your project goals, objectives, and strategies, leading to improved communication and alignment. ->Furthermore, sharing knowledge can also lead to more innovative and creative solutions, as different perspectives and experiences are brought to the table.

I refuse not to share knowledge, and though it sometimes harmed me in the short-term, in the long-term, sharing and helping others has had a meaningful impact. Many colleagues became forever grateful and would move mountains to help me in return. Knowledge is power, but instead of fearing losing your position by sharing too much, strive to be the knowledge spearhead of your organization and bring others with you. It’s satisfying. If someone surpasses your abilities, congratulate and support them. They could be the helping hand you need in the future. I have a few stories that this helping hand saved me from a certain project failure.

Today we have many tools can make our life easier, more efficient, and more effective. Be curious to learn and have courage to try new tools. Imagine a today’s soldier is still using horse and sword because he used to it?

You will always be one step behind when it comes to an ever-evolving landscape of tools and technology that's deployed for networking. You need to be at your A-game and make yourself comfortable when it's about networking at your workspace or beyond the fences of your organization. Tools and platforms, such as LinkedIn and Slack, gives you a safehaven when you're just starting your professional network building.

When networking within your organization, consider the following: Be proactive: Initiate conversations and seek out opportunities to connect. Attend cross-functional meetings: Engage with colleagues from different departments. Leverage social events: Participate in company outings or team-building activities. Use digital tools: Connect on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Show appreciation: Express gratitude for help or collaboration. Remember, building authentic relationships is key!