Well-Connected Leaders: Who Cares?

Networking is a powerful tool for building a strong team in an organization. A leader’s networking skills will help them connect with the right people. These people will bring success and valuable resources that help strengthen the leaders’ relationships with others, including the employees. 

According to a study, networking has a major impact on leadership. A well-connected leader exerts a higher influence on team dynamics, turnover rates, and employee satisfaction. 

So, how do these well-connected leaders help an organization? Let’s find out how this networking affects team engagement and perception.

The Impact of Networking

Networking enhances a leader’s ability to access information and resources through their upward and lateral connections. Networking also affects how others perceive leaders at work. Others can see well-connected leaders as having a higher status than those who don’t network well with their peers and bosses.

How important is it for leaders to be seen by their constituents as well-connected? Does a leader’s perceived status in the network matter less to some followers than others?

A recent study of 42 managers and 184 employees in the banking industry, “Well-Connected Leaders: The Impact of Leader’s Social Network Ties on LMX and Members’ Work Attitudes,” published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, sought to answer these questions. 

They found that well-connected leaders were more likely to be seen as having high status in the workplace. This perception of status enhanced the leader’s ability to form relationships with their employees, and those high-quality relationships were, in turn, related to higher job satisfaction and lower turnover intentions for the employees. 

The authors conclude that “managers would be well served to not only actively engage in networking but also to publicize these connections to create favorable impressions in the minds of members” (p. 1081).

However, well-connected leaders did not matter as much for some employees.

Employees who were well-connected and sought out by coworkers for advice on work matters and to discuss problems and solutions were less likely to be influenced by well-connected leaders. To form high-quality relationships with your well-connected followers, other characteristics like competence and trustworthiness are likely more important than your perceived status.

This study again confirmed what many believe about leadership—relationships matter. As a leader, you need to recognize that just because you might be motivated to have good relationships with your followers does not mean they will be equally motivated to reciprocate. You have to give your followers good reasons to like you, and this study suggests that being well-connected at work matters to most of your followers.

If you are a well-connected leader or follower, people will be motivated to have a good relationship with you. Use your connections to provide your employees or peers with the resources and information they need to do their jobs well, and you will earn their approval and commitment.

Pros of Well-Connected Leaders

There are several advantages to having well-connected leaders. Let’s check out a few.

Access to Resources

Well-connected leaders have direct access to resources, support, and expertise. They can also find better opportunities to grow and boost the team’s performance.

Higher Influence

Connections also elevate the leaders’ organizational status, giving them a higher influence. This leads to meaningful collaborations with other departments and industrial leaders, translating into easier resource access.

Improved Relationships

Leaders with solid networks can build lasting, quality relationships with their employees and staff. This improves their ability to retain employees and increases their job satisfaction.

Team Members Growth

They also open up opportunities and paths to growth for their team. The team members get easy access to stakeholders. They are better able to find training opportunities and access to high-profile projects that lead to the company’s and its employees’ growth and development.

Cons of Well-Connected Leaders

Well-connected leaders bring many benefits to the table, but there are also some drawbacks. 

Favoritism

Sometimes, employees feel that well-connected leaders are biased and give certain activities or departments more attention and, of course, resources. This generates feelings of inequity and lower morale.

Reliance Over Status 

Some leaders rely too heavily on status and connections without fully embracing the other leadership qualities. Leaders need to be empathetic and competent, but if they are not or are focused only on building connections, they will lose the trust of their employees.

Misalignment with the team goals 

At times, well-connected leaders undertake projects that do not align with the organization’s goals but only benefit their connections.

Due to external pressure, they may feel they have to prioritize that task over their team members, which can cause a rift.

Conclusion

Networking or building connections is an effective method for leaders to gain influence and earn the respect of their team members, but this is not and should not be the sole focus of the group leaders. 

How they treat the people around them, including the team members and connections, defines the leader.

The leaders should provide extensive support and work holistically to achieve the organization’s goals while considering the team’s needs. It is their responsibility to create a collaborative and positive work environment. 

Well-connected leaders do get a head start, but other skills, like competence, empathy, and accessibility, are key to keeping the team united under their leadership.

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Bret L. Simmons, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Management at The University of Nevada, Reno. He earned his doctorate in Business Administration at Oklahoma State University. Bret blogs about leadership and social business at his website Positive Organizational Behavior. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.