Building Relationships Can Increase Your Influence

It’s that time for the annual company golf tournament. This corporate social function either brings up thoughts of a great sunny day having fun with your colleagues, or the anxiety has you thinking of all the reasons why you shouldn't attend! It’s no mystery that golfing is one of the most important business tools for building relationships but for many women, the thought of using golf as a business tool is foreign. Our focus this quarter is on the core competency of using interpersonal skills to build relationships – a critical set of knowledge, skills and abilities for women who want to enhance their influencing ability. Golf is just one tool that is worthy of mention now that warm weather is here.

Core Competency#2: Interpersonal Skills

This cluster of skills and abilities focuses on building relationships based on trust, and managing those relationships over a long period of time – often after the project is completed or the team has disbanded or the need for the relationship has passed. In addition to building relationships within your own team, it is beneficial to develop relationships up, down and across the organization. This means you have to be aware of who is senior to you that you can learn from and who works at the same level as you in another part of the company that may now or in the future facilitate you doing your job. One way to enhance your influence inside your organization is to build allies and partnerships with other influential individuals or groups.

“A virtuous circle – you meet connected people and other doors open”

- Research Participant, Spring 2006

Why is this important? Organizations are fluid and constantly changing. Business targets are revised in response to environmental factors, such as prices, the Canadian Dollar and so on. The obvious reason is that organization’s structures change based on changing business needs and this can mean that how you get work done smoothly now can be interrupted if a solid business relationship isn’t in play. Or possibly, you could become part of a project team that includes a diverse group of employees from outside your own department. On a more subtle note, however, decisions can be influenced by side conversations by those “in the know” who have influence.

Components of the Interpersonal Competency include relationships based on trust, facilitating teamwork and collaboration, developing partnerships, having influence, fostering inclusion rather than excluding others and connecting with people. Networking is one way to build relationships internally as well as external to your organization. If this is an area of development for you, check out the Leading from Within Coaching program outlined in the Calendar of Events section.

“Women who play golf will have a definite edge in their career & business paths. Every time they tee up they have a four hour advantage on the competition, and just as much additional exposure to their customers and co-workers” Summerall, 1999, p. 48.

Taking part in the company golf tournament or accepting an invitation to play with others gives you an opportunity to practice relationship building. The important part of the game is the opportunity to get to know others in a small group outside of one’s work role and to begin to establish areas of shared interest.

There are a few things you can do if you’re invited to a golf game, or at the next company golf tournament. What people remember about the event is not how you golfed, but who you are and how you conducted yourself during your time together. So, here’s some golf etiquette:

	Cell phone etiquette is to have your cell phone off, but if it must be on for emergencies, turn it to vibrate, or better yet, make arrangements to check for messages after the front nine and again after the 18th hole. If you must take a call on the course, step away from the group when you are speaking.
	If you are a really good golfer, offer advice ONLY if you are asked
	Agree before you get to the first tee what you will do for mulligans, or gimmies on the green, how long to look for a lost ball, when you’ll pick up etc.
	Conversation openers include asking about what their work involves. Outside of work, look at their bag – does it have tags from other courses? Is she a member at a Golf course? Talk about your golf clubs, how long you’ve had them, how you like them – what about his/her clubs? What clubs has he played at -- what was the most exciting golf course he golfed at? Or the most difficult golf course she has golfed? Another topic is travel – what exciting or exotic courses has she/he played?
	To keep the conversation going, you can ask what he/she thinks of the course, the score on the last hole, or your last great shot - that kind of thing – any easy topics that get the members of your foursome to open up and feel comfortable.
	Most important, have fun!! You have four hours to get to know up to three more people who could have an impact on your work.
	Finally, remember that golfing is a networking activity. Always carry your business cards on your golf bag.

Check out the EWI golf clinic information and Women Fore Wishes golf tournament in the Calendar of Events section below.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE LEADING WOMEN

Jennifer O’Carroll has been promoted to Director, Finance, Prairie Region at GWL Realty Advisors.

Jennifer Mazer-Mikus has been promoted to Director, Human Resources at Brookfield Properties Corporation.

Tracey Zehl has been promoted to Partner at Deloitte Touche LLP.

Caroline Arnieri has been promoted to VP, Corporate HR at Encana.

Judy Fairburn has moved to a new area within EnCana and is leading the EnCana-ConocoPhillips joint venture as VP Downstream Operations, Integrated Oilsands.

Anne Thomas has moved from Shell Canada Energy to the Aboriginal Affairs Department in PetroCanada as Stakeholder and Community Advisor.

Alissa Perry has moved from XL Foods to Shell Canada as the Human Resources Rep in the Oil Sands group.

Have you moved or moved up? If so, let me know so I can announce in the next newsletter.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Leading From Within Program

Are you satisfied with your career advancement? Do you have the confidence to negotiate your next career move?

The Leading from Within Coaching program is a series of 10 sessions that concentrates on exploring the strengths that women bring to their role, with attention given to the creation of a concrete action plan that will further develop the leadership style within each participant. It is designed to increase self-confidence, and draw out the personal power of each female leader to achieve greater effectiveness in today’s challenging workplace. Topics include:

Defining strengths, talents & core values as a leader

Reviewing the role of balance in leadership

Exploring leadership success strategies

Practicing negotiation techniques

Creating your personal leadership profile and building an action
plan to move forward

Coaching sessions are scheduled onsite and at times that work with your schedule. Contact Donna Leibham at Leibham.and.company@shaw.ca for details.

Annual Fore Wishes Golf Tournament

The tournament is scheduled for September 6, 2007 at the beautiful Elks golf club with lunch at 11:30 and shot gun start at 12:30 p.m. I love the format – it’s texas scramble plus “shoot n roll – dice”. At the end of the round you roll the dice and can deduct the amount you roll from your team score – this is my kind of golf tournament! I spoke with Debbie Van Camp and they do have some spots open so make some calls and set up a foursome. Individual golfers are accepted as well. If you are interested in going, contact Debbie Van Camp at
debbiev@rainbowsociety.ab.ca or by phone at 252-3891.

Executive Women’s International Golf Clinic

I chatted with Karen Skirten of Mark Staffing Solutions at the June chapter meeting of the Executive Women International Calgary Chapter. The EWI is hosting a golf clinic from the novice golfer to the experienced on Wednesday August 15, 2007. In addition to practicing basic skills such as chipping, pitching, putting and driving, female golf pro and General Manager of Cottonwood golf course Tiffany Gordon will talk about “Pursuing a Passion Professionally” - and you can opt to stay for dinner as well. This is a great deal – cost is only $65.00 for the clinic only, or $105.00 if you want to stay for dinner. For more information, contact the EWI at sacher@carriagehouse.net

Women on Board – Corporate Governance Symposium

Alberta Venture & the Alberta School of Business have teamed up with Ernst & Young to present a 2 ½ day symposium at the beautiful Delta Lodge at Kananaskis from September 30 to October 2nd. The symposium is geared to women who are interested in obtaining, or have just received a role on a corporate board as director. For more information access the Alberta Venture website.

Building Your Influence Skills

Work is in progress to bring an expert from Boston to Calgary to facilitate a one day workshop on how to increase your influence to achieve greater effectiveness in your organization. Watch the fall newsletter for further details – to be scheduled for February, 2008.