| Although there are any number of different | | | | This allows people to meet, ask the CEO |
| networking groups and events you can attend, | | | | questions and get involved in discussions.Seek out |
| some of the best networking can occur within | | | | (or start) a mentor program. Identify people you |
| your organisation. To build your profile and | | | | would like to learn from within the organisation |
| reputation internally and understand "who's who in | | | | and approach them about being mentored for 6 |
| the zoo" it is worth investing time to get to know | | | | months. If your organisation already has a |
| the people around you. Here are some | | | | mentoring program, sign up and get involved.Write |
| suggestions of activities you could try to boost | | | | for the company newsletter. Offer to provide |
| your internal networking skills.Volunteer for the | | | | articles or updates for the internal newsletter. This |
| social committee. Every business (large or small) | | | | is a great way to work with the production team |
| has a social committee (sometimes is it informal) | | | | (who are often volunteers looking for content for |
| designed to create fun activities to get to know | | | | the newsletter).Get involved in a charity. Select a |
| co-workers. Invest some of your time to help the | | | | deserving charity and organise events within the |
| team create some fun and energy in your | | | | company to raise money for them. Your |
| workplace. Organise a variety of events - some | | | | company may already have a chosen charity, if |
| costing money, others that are free, some that | | | | so; invite someone from the organisation to |
| include family members or partners and some | | | | update your colleagues on suggestions of how |
| that involved outside activity i.e. company picnic - | | | | you can help even more. This can be a fun way |
| you can all meet in a park, take your own food, | | | | to help others and also help you get to know |
| provide sports equipment and plan to have fun. | | | | those you work with. Make it an annual event if it |
| This activity also allows others to meet your | | | | is something special i.e. red nose day or Daffodil |
| extended family and help learn more about you. If | | | | day.Hold a 'brown bag' seminar at lunchtime. Invite |
| you want to keep it strictly to those you work | | | | everyone to bring his or her own lunch; you can |
| with, organise an event where you can meet | | | | invite a speaker to provide information to the |
| people during the week and participate in an | | | | team. The topics might be relevant to them for |
| activity i.e. ten pin bowling or the movies. By | | | | outside life i.e. health, fitness, family or some way |
| choosing a week night it means people are not | | | | to add value to the people you work with. The |
| giving up their weekend. At Christmas hold an | | | | topics can come from our colleagues - ask them |
| event to help a charity by collecting gifts or tinned | | | | for suggestions. You can hold these on a monthly |
| food to donate to the needy.Arrange a Lunchtime | | | | basis and allow time within the agenda to meet at |
| self-development session. Determine a topic you | | | | least two other people from other departments. |
| and your colleagues would be interested in, then | | | | Advertise it on the notice boards, email and in the |
| simply invite someone into your organisation to | | | | bathrooms (you would be surprised how many |
| give a brief presentation allowing time for | | | | people read information in the |
| questions and answers. You don't need to pay this | | | | bathrooms).Organise cross-function team events. |
| person; they may be an internal expert you invite. | | | | Get to know other teams within the business by |
| Choose someone who is an expert in his or her | | | | holding a morning tea and asking the other team |
| topic area. When organising the meeting, set up | | | | to explain what they do within the business and |
| the agenda so that there is time when people | | | | the challenges they face, and then you do the |
| arrive to meet each other, allow 20 minutes for | | | | same. This is a great way to find about others |
| the presentation, 10 minutes for questions and a | | | | and also share what you are working on.Start a |
| few minutes at the end to continue chatting to | | | | book club. Find a few people who are interested in |
| co-workers.Start Friday night drinks after work. | | | | similar books to you, set yourself a book to read |
| Suggest your team finish at 5.00 on Friday | | | | every two months. If it is an Australian author, |
| afternoon and all meet at a local bar or | | | | invite them to join you at one of your meetings |
| café. Invite other teams that you work | | | | to explain more about the book and why it was |
| with to join you. Meet from 5.00 - 6.00 PM so it | | | | written. Most authors love to meet their readers. |
| isn't a late night and still allows people to meet | | | | When you get together, chat about what you |
| other Friday evening commitments. Pick a central | | | | learnt from the book, what your opinions are on |
| location close to the office and make it a regular | | | | the writing style and what you liked most about |
| event. After a month it will gain momentum and | | | | the book.Get in a project team. Seek |
| people will know you are there and will join you | | | | opportunities to work on projects within your |
| when they leave the office.Organise a lunchtime | | | | team and with other departments. Ensure you |
| sports team. This is a great way to build | | | | have your manager's permission to be involved. |
| teamwork internally and also get to know people | | | | This is a great way to network and learn from |
| from other areas within the organisation. Put up a | | | | others.Offer to be the MC. If you have a |
| notice or send an email asking for interested | | | | conference or event, offer your services to be |
| parties and then form a team i.e. basketball, | | | | the master (or mistress) of ceremonies. This will |
| football, tennis, soccer team are all fun and easy | | | | help you meet other people within the |
| to organise. Find an oval, park or gym close to | | | | organisation, external experts that might be |
| the office you can use and set a regular time and | | | | invited as part of the event and also help profile |
| day each week to meet. This is a great way to | | | | your skills.Provide your business card to |
| also get fresh air and exercise while networking. | | | | co-workers. When you meet someone from |
| You might even like to get everyone to | | | | another department always offer your card. This |
| contribute some funds and organise team t-shirts | | | | will give them your contact information if they |
| to wear, your organisation may even have some | | | | want to contact you again.Make the most of |
| you can use!Hold a quarterly breakfast forum and | | | | getting to know those you work with, take time |
| invite the CEO. Make an appointment with your | | | | to learn what they do and how you can work |
| CEO's Personal Assistant and advise them you | | | | together to achieve your goals.Neen is a Global |
| would like to invite the CEO to a quarterly | | | | Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend |
| breakfast where they can meet the team and | | | | their time and energy - and where they focus |
| also answer questions they might have. Once you | | | | their attention - Neen helps people to |
| get approval from the PA, book the next | | | | rocket-charge their productivity and performance. |
| quarter's date and find a suitable venue | | | | A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, |
| (preferably close to the office). Each person pays | | | | Neen demonstrates how boosting your |
| for their own breakfast so it doesn't cost the | | | | productivity can help you achieve amazing things. |
| company any money. Make arrangements with a | | | | With her unique voice, sense of fun and |
| café close to the office or in-house catering | | | | uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a |
| if you have it, and start at 7.30 and finish by 8.45. | | | | powerful lesson in productivity. |