Your Team Deserves a Well-Connected Manager

We introverts can make excellent managers, but there's one thing we need to pay particular attention to. That is expanding and maintaining our internal networks. What comes naturally to some people, typically extroverts, can feel like a chore to us. I've experienced this myself and I believe I'm not the only one.

My comfort zone is interacting with the few people I already know and concentrating on the “real work”. It's easy for my "comfort-seeking mind" to find excuses why engaging with a broader group of managers and leaders within my company is a waste of time or merely politics. We might even convince ourselves that our current career trajectory is just fine, and we don't need to invest in networking for that reason either.

However, this is where we need to remind ourselves of why we became managers in the first place. When people step into their first managerial role, they are often thrilled about this new phase in their careers. When I chat with them, I always remind them that this marks the moment when their priorities need to shift. The most crucial career to manage is no longer their own, but the careers of those who report to them.

Managers with a robust internal network can help their teams to:

- Accomplish their jobs by connecting them to the right people and resources within the company

- Gain visibility for their work and achievements

- Propel their careers in their chosen direction

Pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone to actively network isn't merely a choice – it's a responsibility, and we owe it to our team.