Are you a connector or a blocker?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary ‘being well-connected’ means:
Having friends or family members who are important or powerful people or knowing people who are important and powerful.
Being well-connected took on a slightly different meaning during COVID when the focus was on technical connection. Did you have fast broadband, stable electricity, and the right technology to access Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, or other platforms?
The reality is that being well-connected in the workplace today is still important for anyone who wants to make a name for themselves, to be considered for promotion, or to extend their influence and get results.
The term networking has been around for many years and a lot of people react in horror to the thought of going out and networking, almost as if it is a dirty word (like some people think sales is!). Yet many people will join a social network quite happily and get involved with people they have never met. The same is true of social media where people follow celebrities and others that they have never met or know very little about.
Cambridge Dictionary defines a social network as:
A website or computer program that allows people to communicate and share information on the internet using a computer or mobile phone.
So being well-connected is about having active social networks. The reality is that it is so much more than that. We all live and move in a variety of ‘live’ social networks every day. We are connected to many people. There is our family, our local communities, the people who provide services to us that we interact with in shops, on transport, and at work.
We work with clients who have been successful in their specialist area and want to progress in the organisation, and they don’t understand why they are not being selected for promotion. They believe that the quality of their work will speak for itself, and they will be recognised. So, what are they missing? To be recognised as a manager or leader it is more than just your work that counts. You need to be someone who is able to achieve results through the efforts and work of others.
What is a connector?
Someone who connects to people around them. They may be naturally good at making connections, and they do it through a genuine interest in people. We admire those people and appreciate what the connections will bring – influence, information, and recognition. But it is not a one-way street, the connector looks to bring value to all their relationships sharing willingly, supporting, and collaborating. They encourage their team to stretch out to add value to other areas of the organisation.
What is a blocker?
Blockers are individuals who want to make themselves indispensable. They hold power for themselves and become the bottleneck in many situations. They seldom empower their staff members to go out and network or think beyond their current team. They only celebrate their own achievements.
Why be a connector?
Who we are makes a difference to everyone around us. Either positive or negative. That does not mean that everyone needs to be an extrovert, although they often get noticed the most!
What it does mean is that you need to be engaged and connected in the workplace. People need to know who you are and what you stand for. Will you add value and promote a positive environment where work gets done and individuals can flourish (a connector) or someone who causes team members to disengage and give the minimum accepted level of performance (a blocker).
How to check out whether you are a connector or not? Do you?
- Have a social network that enables you to talk to key stakeholders / peers? One that enables you to clear blockages that get in the way of your staff members.
- Influence the decision making even when you are not the authority.
- Always leave a good impression, without looking as if you are trying too hard.
- Have a reputation for being trusted to be fair and consistent.
- Promote your team as well as yourself.
It’s been said that no man is an island, and this is something that all connectors understand. They are genuinely interested in creating social networks, not just for their benefit, but also for their team and the organisation.
They get results through harnessing relationships. They can connect to the right people at the right time for the right reasons. They expand the circle for their staff introducing them to connections in other areas that enable more productive conversations and collaboration, often performing a mentoring function.
What does it take to be a connector?
A positive attitude and a proactive approach – you need to get out there and connect!
If you want to enhance your ability to connect, start with us as your first step: info@chameleonskills.com or visit our website.