8 Tips to Help Women Build Strong Networks

What if I told you that face time with leaders helps build a high-profile network, but only for men? Recent research has shown that, compared to men, women who had the opportunity to engage face-to-face with a senior leader were 40% less likely to form a tie with that leader. Gender bias conditions make it harder for women to form high-status connections in the workplace.

But there’s a silver lining here. Women are more likely to benefit from “network proximity”, where women junior talent form high-status connections via third-party ties in their organization. In other words, they form a strategic “trio”. Here’s what it looks like – a junior (“lower-ranking”) woman forms ties with a woman “rising star” (in middle management) who has earned the trust of a woman high-status manager/executive.

All three mutually benefit from each other. The lower-level employee is vouched for by the rising star, creating a “subtext of credibility” when the rising star mentions their name to the high-status executive. The rising star gets credit for identifying up-and-coming talent in the organization and displaying leadership. The high-status woman benefits by first-hand understanding junior challenges and being a connected leader.

Strategic “trio’ing” allows for up-and-coming women to be seen through a lens unclouded by gender bias while bringing forward talented junior employees. Here are eight tips to help women network using trios:

If you’re in HR or an executive -
Update/Create a networking program that prioritizes third-party ties.

• Pair junior women with sponsors working at the same geographic location (or as close as possible)
• Sponsors would commit to introducing women to influential colleagues

If you’re a high-status holder - 

• Invite your rising stars (middle managers) to suggest people for projects and roles that may have otherwise been overlooked
• Ask your rising stars to keep you informed of and introduce you to talented junior women, the things they are doing etc.

If you’re a rising star - 

• Identify and connect with talented junior women: Informally become a “sponsor” of a lower-ranking employee, getting to know them and their interests within the organization
• When in the “room” with higher-level leaders, mention the names of junior, talented women who are relevant to the conversation/initiative

If you’re junior talent - 

• Identify rising stars who are between your level and the top tier of your organization
• Connect with them and explore shared interests within the workplace and opportunities for collaboration