How can you help a mentee build relationships with colleagues in different departments?

As a career development coach, you may have a mentee who wants to expand their network and collaborate with colleagues from different departments. This can help them gain new perspectives, learn new skills, and advance their career. However, building cross-functional relationships can be challenging, especially in large or remote organizations. How can you help your mentee overcome these barriers and foster meaningful connections with other professionals? Here are some tips to guide your coaching process.

1 Identify the goals

Before reaching out to anyone, your mentee should have a clear idea of why they want to build relationships with colleagues from different departments. What are their specific objectives, interests, and expectations? How can they contribute value to the other parties? How can they align their goals with the organizational vision and mission? Help your mentee define their purpose and identify the potential benefits and challenges of cross-functional networking.

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Nguyen Cam Tu _Career Coach and Trainer

Co-Founder S4T Academy| Maxwell Leadership Certified Team| Executive Coach| Leadership Trainer| Career Mentor| Points of you Facilitator Level 4| HR Director| L&D| Assist YOU in Designing Your Career Path to Success
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Set Realistic Goals: Help your mentee set realistic and achievable goals for expanding their network. This could include reaching out to a certain number of colleagues from different departments each month.

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Kevin Kigen

Accountant
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One of the ways I have found very helpful in building good relationships with fellow staff is by showing through your work, how relevant your skills are in that company. Once your skills are recognized, you will have a base and bargaining power for sharing those skills and this attracts respect. As a mentor, I would encourage every mentee to utilize hiss/her time well furnishing their skills well, using the rigth communication skills, accepting correction from other employees in different departments, and being open to learn as many things as possible within a very short time but keeping in mind what he/she is best in. The mentee should also be a great problem solver, should be someone who can be relied upon and gain trust of all staff ASAP

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2 Research the departments

Once your mentee has a clear goal, they should do some research on the departments they want to connect with. What are their main functions, projects, and priorities? Who are the key players, influencers, and decision-makers? What are their communication styles, preferences, and channels? How do they measure their performance and impact? Help your mentee gather relevant information and insights that can help them understand the context and culture of the departments.

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3 Find the opportunities

After doing some research, your mentee should look for opportunities to initiate or join conversations with colleagues from different departments. These could be formal or informal, online or offline, one-on-one or group-based. For example, your mentee could attend interdepartmental meetings, webinars, or workshops; join cross-functional teams, committees, or task forces; participate in social events, clubs, or forums; or simply send an email, a message, or a request for a coffee chat. Help your mentee select the most appropriate and effective ways to reach out and engage with others.

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Catherine Boutet

HR & Talent Acquisition Specialist | Employability & Career Advisor for Women | Social Impact | DE&I | Founder Mums Talent
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Building relationships with colleagues in different departments is crucial for professional growth and a well-rounded career. One great way to foster connections across various departments/teams is seeking out cross-functional projects or initiatives. These opportunities allow mentees to collaborate with colleagues from various departments, fostering teamwork and creating natural connections. Volunteering for training sessions or workshops that involve employees from various departments is also an excellent way for mentees to showcase their skills while interacting with colleagues with different expertise.

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4 Build rapport and trust

When your mentee connects with colleagues from different departments, they should focus on building rapport and trust. This means being respectful, courteous, and professional; showing genuine interest and curiosity; listening actively and empathetically; asking open-ended and relevant questions; sharing relevant and useful information; offering support and feedback; and following up and staying in touch. Help your mentee demonstrate their value, credibility, and authenticity in their interactions.

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5 Seek feedback and advice

As your mentee develops their relationships with colleagues from different departments, they should seek feedback and advice from them. This can help them improve their skills, knowledge, and performance; gain new perspectives and insights; identify new opportunities and challenges; and solve problems and overcome obstacles. Help your mentee ask for constructive and actionable feedback and advice from their cross-functional contacts, and show appreciation and gratitude for their input.

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6 Maintain and nurture the relationships

Finally, your mentee should maintain and nurture their relationships with colleagues from different departments. This means keeping in touch regularly and consistently; updating them on their progress and achievements; celebrating their successes and milestones; acknowledging their contributions and recognition; providing support and referrals; and exploring new ways to collaborate and learn from each other. Help your mentee sustain and deepen their cross-functional connections and leverage them for their career development.

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Nguyen Cam Tu _Career Coach and Trainer

Co-Founder S4T Academy| Maxwell Leadership Certified Team| Executive Coach| Leadership Trainer| Career Mentor| Points of you Facilitator Level 4| HR Director| L&D| Assist YOU in Designing Your Career Path to Success
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Highlight the Importance of Communication: Emphasize the value of clear and effective communication. Encourage your mentee to express their thoughts and ideas clearly, both in writing and verbally. Provide guidance on active listening skills, as understanding the needs and perspectives of colleagues is essential for building strong relationships.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you help a mentee build relationships with colleagues in different departments?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Identify the goals

2 Research the departments

3 Find the opportunities

4 Build rapport and trust

5 Seek feedback and advice

6 Maintain and nurture the relationships

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development Coaching

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How can you help a mentee build relationships with colleagues in different departments?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify the goals

2 Research the departments

3 Find the opportunities

4 Build rapport and trust

5 Seek feedback and advice

6 Maintain and nurture the relationships

7 Here’s what else to consider

Career Development Coaching

Rate this article

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