What is your interacting with others hurdle #4?

Whatever network I have at work is comprised mostly of colleagues from my functional area (i.e. I am in marketing and everyone in my network is from marketing).

What can you do?

– Create a list of colleagues outside of your functional area with whom you should raise your visibility if your network is comprised solely of colleagues from your functional area.

– Ask a colleague if her network expands beyond her functional area and how she went about building such a network.

– Speak with your manager about volunteering for a project or committee outside of your functional area. This is a great way to meet colleagues outside of your functional area with whom you will share a common goal.
Question: What can you do to improve your interaction with colleagues outside of your functional area?

What is your interacting with others hurdle #3?

I do not meet with leaders at least two levels above me so we can get to know each other better.

What can you do?

– Reach out to a new leader who is one to two levels above you and new to the organization to schedule time with him so you can get to know each other better.

– Ask a colleague to join you if you are uncomfortable meeting with a leader at least two levels above you.

– Take some time to think about how you and your team will work with this individual, how you and your team can help this individual, and what you and your team need from this individual. Once you have this thought out, you will see the benefits of meeting in a clearer and more logical way.

What is your interacting with others hurdle #2?

My boss repeatedly cancels my one-to-one meetings with her.

What can you do?

Ensure that you tell your boss about the importance of this time with her. It is possible that your boss feels she is helping you by giving you time back in your calendar.

– Send your boss an agenda in advance, and include one to two items that require a decision from your boss.

– Be persistent if your boss cancels a meeting, and immediately reschedule the meeting.