People pros

THE backbone of any corporate organisation is the network engineer who maintains systems on a high efficiency mode, de-bugs them constantly, firewalls them against intruders, prevent server crashes, updates old versions of system software etc.

This is exactly what a `people-networker' too has to do. A major part of good career management happens through proficient networking skills. But dealing or networking with and staying connected to a large number of people regularly can be a tad difficult and demanding. Unfortunately, like everything else `man-caused' there is no one formula that can ensure lasting success.

Networking pros are people who have a natural inclination to be with people. They enjoy interacting with people, and feel gloomy when they are out of circulation. But for the `geek', networking can be compared to eating caviar! But you need to acquire a taste for it to relish it. Likewise, you need to develop a strong-felt need to network to actually do it.

To de-stress and focus better on your job, here's a gimlet-eyed view of the benefits of staying connected and being a people- savvy person!

People skills - Dealing with people will bestow you with rare and important human insights that can only help you cope better with people at your workplace. It will in fact highlight how important it is to understand the need for cooperation, coordination, adjustment, team play etc.

Tunnel vision - Extensive interactions with people helps broaden one's perspective. Your gain will be multi-fold if you are able to consider the other's call on an issue. This aids keen judgement and helps you find newer ways and ideas to deal with everyday issues.

Problem solving skills - With experience, contentious matters cease to trouble that much more. Especially when you experience them first hand or see people in your network go through it. The atavistic learning will cause you to instinctively focus on the heart of the matter, and find effective solutions to similar problems solved earlier.

Stress thresholds - Communicating with people and sustaining friendships usually has a tempering effect on people who are impatient by nature. It teaches you to meet the other person halfway, and cope with workplace stress and demands.

Contingency management - Numerous people invariably implies numerous situations and problems as well! Either through sympathetic suffering or personal experience, exposure to such situations builds resilience, enhancing one's reflexes and resourcefulness.

A keen desire to stay updated - Staying within a network of diverse people with differing views, preferences and tastes requires versatility and a desire to stay updated on current affairs, which in the loop at the workplace.

Reallocation trauma - A good network ensures that you remain well connected with people from different backgrounds and places.

These contacts can come in handy when you need to relocate. Your network can throw up some good alternatives when it comes to accommodation and can help you tide over relocation trauma.

Personality issues - Having a wide circle of friends will bring you face to face with a considerable number of personality issues. This exposure can help you introspect on your own attitudes and cope with them better.

Networking has become paramount as the world becomes a smaller, more crowded space, and as geographical barriers blur, there will be an increasing need for people to connect with each other. So start connecting!

SAMYUKTA KODA

samyukta.hyd@cnkonline.com