I wrote this article for a monthly team member publication that has about 60,000 employees. This is the company where I spent my entire professional career.
Networking
I recently learned an interesting bit of trivia: If it was possible to lay out all
the arteries, veins, capillaries and other various types of blood vessels from
a single human body, the total length would be somewhere around 60,000
miles. That’s more than enough to wrap around the earth twice!
This amazing network contained within each of us is constantly working to
get oxygen, nutrients and waste to the correct places and keep us healthy.
This is happening all the time. The process never stops moving and
flowing.
As I pondered more on this, it got me thinking how similar that network is to
the one here at Menards, the network of people. Not buying it? Just hear
me out.
I started my career at Menards in 1991 at the Fargo, ND store as a
Manager Trainee. There I met my first General Managers and Department
Managers, along with many full and part time team members. Many of
those people I met then still work for the company today.
After a year, I was promoted to a new store in Bolingbrook, IL. There I met
a whole new set of managers and team members. A few months later, I
promoted to new store in Indianapolis, IN, again meeting and networking
with a new set of people. The process repeated itself when I moved to the
Rapid City, SD store, and again when I landed in the General Office in Eau
Claire, WI. As was the case with the Fargo team, many of the people I met
at each stop are still with the company. And many of those have also taken
a path through several stores and locations just like I did.
I haven’t done the math, but I bet if I added all the miles between myself
and every team member with whom I’ve connected in all those years, the
distance would far surpass 60,000 miles.
This network of people, and the resources that each hold are vital to
keeping this company healthy. They are the lifeblood that flows
throughout.
As time passes and your career at Menards progresses, build your network
with purpose and be mindful to foster strong relationships with people who
can help you and whom you can help.
Here are some things to keep in mind to build a strong network for yourself.
First, seek out good mentors. These are experienced people who set good
examples for others. They are willing to answer questions. They have a
strong work ethic and they teach by doing just as much as by telling.
Likewise, as you gain more experience, be a good mentor to others. Be
the person who is approachable and friendly and always willing to answer a
question for a new team member.
As much as possible, stay connected to good people that you meet. Keep
tabs on their careers and their geographic locations. Maintain the flow of
communication. Difficult situations will pop up and sometimes it’s just nice
to get an outside perspective on possible solutions. That’s called
collaboration.
Also, at some point, the people you meet may be in a position to hire you to
your next promotion. Conversely, you may be in need of someone to fill an
open position.
So just like drinking clear water, breathing clean air and eating right keeps
the internal network of your body healthy, staying connected, along with
good communication and collaboration will help you build a strong and
healthy professional network.