A lot of people asked me about my posting last week, Human Networks Have Power in Uncertain Times, so I thought it would be a good idea to talk a little more about how relationships are important over the course of the next few weeks. In what ways are relationships important when the economy is weak? This can be answered from a number of perspectives.
Organizational networks are a good place to start. By definition organizational networks are the informal knowledge communities within the workplace. In today’s information economy, there is recognition that the flow of information inside organizations is not limited to the hierarchies of formal organizational charts. In fact, extensive research shows us that advice seeking is not bound by these structures, and often even detailed maps of organizational structures cannot accurately depict the informal interactions that occur amongst employees.
So what does this mean? Well, from an organizational standpoint, these uncertain times in the economy often limit a firm’s ability to hire needed additional staff. Therefore, it’s critical to empower your team to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. The need to restructure part of a department would be a good example of this. The same is true in times of layoffs or workforce reductions. Not knowing who your top performers are from both a formal and informal standpoint could prove to be detrimental to your firm. The manner in which you utilize these key players and position them in ways that help transfer the flow of information is critical.
Some of the most important internal teams in an organization are customer account teams. How can you make sure you’re leveraging their relationships and supporting them so that they are able to build stronger and more solid connections with your customers and prospects?
