How to build a well networked organization?

A sloan management study indicates that well networked organizations such as IDEO, IBM, and U.S. Army draw outperformances from their people through effective learning and development practices. 

But what is the most important enabler for building good networks in an organization?

Although there may be many different enablers for building good networks for collaboration within organization, I suggest the 'emotion regulation' skill must be one. 

Networking is another name of socialization, and the emotion regulation is very essential in the process of socialization. 

For example, a manager who is easily tempered and express his/her negative emotions to subordinates hinders building good networks in an organization. Subordinates would not like to engage in their work, but to be protective from manager's unnecessary emotional challenges. 

Thus, I believe that learning and developing 'emotion management' skill is the most important thing for managers to do for building positively networked organization. 

 

Source: IDEO Method Cards - http://www.ideo.com/work/method-cards/

Building a Well-Networked Organization

By Margaret Schweer, Dimitris Assimakopoulos, Rob Cross and Robert J. Thomas

December 21, 2011

By understanding the structure of talent networks within companies, managers can foster more effective collaboration.

http://sloanreview.mit.edu/the-magazine/2012-winter/53211/building-a-well-networked-organization/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sm-direct

THE LEADING QUESTION

How can companies leverage employee networks to increase individual and organizational performance?

FINDINGS

• Look at employees from both individual performance and network effectiveness perspectives to identify valuable pockets of hidden talent.
• Develop talent management practices that incorporate and strengthen social networks.
• Create mechanisms to replicate the types of networks high performers have.