Back when I started college I became acquainted with a young man from the Middle East. He came many thousands of miles to attend school in a relatively unknown place called Ogden, Utah. This was amazing to me but what amazed me even more is when he asked if I was interested in starting a business importing “jute” from India. Wow, international business at age 19! He explained that jute, a natural material, was used for the backing of carpet like we have in our homes. Although I didn't pursue the venture I was quickly learning that opportunities and knowledge were to be gained from halfway across the world starting right in my own backyard! In the military, in college, and other post grade school activities, most of us made new friends, new companionships, and shared new ideas which quickly expanded our horizons from the “tribal village” to the “global village”. These were our early days of networking, times when we were invigorated with new ideas, opportunities, and experiences coming at us almost faster than we could comprehend.

For many of us that was a long time ago. Do we still maintain that kind of information flowing into our lives, information which can be critical to our careers now and in the future? Sure we attend the occasional “big” industry conference; we even slip out to the special vendor breakfast ‘seminar” every now and then, but maybe, due to the demands of day to day jobs, we have gradually slipped back into the “tribal village”. As Information Technology Leaders we are expected to have the right ideas and the know-how to implement them for the benefit of our organizations. We often talk among ourselves at work but too often never really get out and expand our horizons. We read a few magazines, and sure, we attend a few events designed to get us excited but do we find ourselves seeing how it all works in the real world? When things get tough we often tend to work harder but in reality the answer may not lie within the “tribal village” or “rut” in which we might be stuck. IT is under high scrutiny in many organizations, the idea of “IT Doesn’t Matter” has caught hold in companies and our value is being challenged. The hard work may not be paying off; some find themselves out of a job. Where are the ideas which strengthen the value of IT? Have we become stagnant or relied too much on the consultant to tell us where to go and what to do? What have each of us been doing to connect and network with others who are solving the same problems at other companies?

It is surprising what lies in your own backyard when it comes to help. Some of the best help can be found from people doing just what you’re doing. The only difference is they are not at your company and you might have to drive or walk a few minutes away to see them instead of just walking out of your office or taking the elevator. You will need to have made an investment, however, in order to do this. The investment is called Networking. Let me share with you something written by a very successful business leader emphasizing the value of networking.

        Building personal contacts and relationships is one of the best ways, if not the best way, to become more
        successful and move your career forward. Creating a professional network of contacts you can tap into, in
        different industries and companies takes time, perseverance and effort. And yes, it is better to "dig the well
        before you are thirsty" but that doesn't mean it is too late to do it when you are looking for something new or
        already need the next job.

It appears that networking not only brings new ideas but might also provide employment security. A number of IT leaders owe their career advancement to the skills and contacts they developed through networking.
Steve Terry, SIM Intermountain President and Senior Vice-President and CIO at Beneficial Financial Group in Salt Lake City, Utah, made the following statement to members and friends of the Society for Information Management concerning his networking experiences involving SIM.

        “In the years I have been involved with SIM, I have come to appreciate the great value of networking and
        meeting with my peers in this area. There have been many occasions where I have learned of innovative
        ideas which I would have never thought of on my own.”

And as a further reference and evidence as to the value of networking in the highest role of leadership, the CIO, Bruce Ballengee, President, Pariveda Solutions made this statement in an article titled, The Essential Roles of the CIO

        “CIOs have one clear option – focus on acquiring wisdom over knowledge, information and data.
        Each can be obtained by developing a rich network of business relationships, both inside and outside the
        enterprise. But the gold standard for CIO networking is to connect with other “wisdom-seekers” across a
        variety of disciplines outside the enterprise.”

So, what are You waiting for?

If you are a mid-to-upper IT leader, here is an excellent way you can make effective use of your time by networking and getting “outside the enterprise”. Utah has a premier forum for leadership networking and engagement. It is the Intermountain Chapter of the Society for Information Management (SIM). Nationally established in 1968, the Society for Information Management is the premier network for IT leaders comprised of nearly 3,000 members, including CIOs, senior IT executives, prominent academicians, consultants, and other IT leaders. It is a community of thought leaders who share experiences and rich intellectual capital that is applied, and who explore future IT direction. The Utah based chapter has a membership of nearly 75 top IT leaders representing companies and organizations around the Intermountain West. Many of the most prominent companies and IT organizations in the area are represented by top IT professionals, men and women, who skillfully lead groups ranging from tens to hundreds of employees, and manage budgets from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions. Darwin A. John, a past president of SIM International observed that SIM Intermountain is one of the best organized chapters in the country. So, do you want new ideas about leadership, organizational structure, and ways to show the value of IT for yourself and those you lead? Do you want to share your experiences and learn what is working for others, including technologies, vendor relationships, and leadership techniques. IT does matter and
it is a matter of the right IT leadership and vision. You don’t have to fly hundreds of miles to see the global village, just plug in to the information flowing through your own backyard.


To learn more about joining SIM go to www.simutah.org/membership or contact Randy Hughes:simmembership@simutah.org

See Darwin A. John article “Networked for Life”

Upcoming articles
8 Ways to Maximize the Value of Networking Events
The Real Value Proposition of SIM.