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AGCAREERS.COM
AG & FOOD CAREER GUIDE
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C
all it making connections or
relationship building, but at the
core, it’s good old networking; It is the
human connection that often occurs
naturally between people. Networking
is the magic that brings joy to our
workdays and laughs in the lunchroom,
it’s those relationships that help us grow
professionally, advance in our careers,
and celebrate our wins. They also teach
us valuable lessons when we fail, lead
us to new opportunities we did not know
we wanted, and sometimes put us into
uncomfortable situations that force us
to take our biggest, bravest risks. These
relationships within the professional
world can be tricky to build, sometimes
hard to maintain, but also turn into
lifelong friendships.
Professional relationships have
helped me change industries, helped
me define goals, and guided me
forward down my career path. These
relationships have allowed me to
transition into the role of mentor while
still being a mentee. Without healthy
working relationships, we risk feeling
alone, unguided, and unengaged in our
professional roles.
In many industries, outside-the-
office activities, like golf, are times
for networking. Why is networking so
important? People want to work for or
with people they like, it is natural to want
this connection.
The unfair political game means it has
nothing to do with your ability to perform
your job. I say this because the people
who attend the golf games typically hold
higher roles on the organizational chart
and are not interested in hanging in the
lunchroom and getting to know you while
eating a brown-bag lunch. As I said, it
is not a fair process. It’s about them,
not about you. It’s learning to “play the
game” at a basic level.
Relationships with
Coworkers
Making connections with the people you
work with means more to your career
than just making friends. It includes
invitations to company outings, opens
doors to collaborative project work, and,
most importantly, reminds the leadership
that you are a wonderful team member.
It is no secret that office politics is
not fair. Our society puts policies and
procedures in place to attempt to control
the political game within companies
but can still fail. The way to combat this
is to build allies within the company.
This means working relationships with
those who you can help, and those
who can help you. It is a give-and-take
relationship. You can do this by being
open to conversation when in the
lunchroom. This means no earbuds. Ask
people about their weekend and make
small talk with others. Allow them to get
to know you a little more.
This also includes connecting
with your coworkers on LinkedIn and
exchanging personal emails or phone
numbers. There will be times when a
coworker is no longer with the company,
and you may have missed a great
connection for your future.
Get the Invite
Attending the golf tournament, or any
social function that involves networking,
is important for all employees. Having
the opportunity should not be based on
your gender, your golfing skills, or your
ability to tell a good joke. This is a work
event, and all should have the same
opportunity. However, here are some
ways you can bait the fish.
•
Purposefully join in the conversation.
by Paula West, Digital Experience Project Manager, AgCareers.com
TO PLAY OR
NOT TO PLAY.
IT’S NOT REALLY
A QUESTION.
Your network is one of
your strongest tools
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