Surround Yourself with Colleagues Who Boost Your Performance.

This article explores the importance of building effective internal networks in today's organizations. It emphasizes that different individuals benefit from different types of networks and suggests creating a network that supports areas where one's cognitive style is not naturally suited. The article provides a three-step guide to building a performance-boosting network, including identifying one's cognitive style, mapping the network for cohesion or openness, and maximizing the complementarity premium by building a network that supports areas of weakness. The article offers examples of individuals with different cognitive styles and their network preferences. It also suggests tailoring networking approaches based on managers' cognitive styles and provides recommendations for mapping cognitive styles, increasing awareness, tailoring interventions, investing in training, and leveraging technology. The article acknowledges that national and organizational culture may impact the effectiveness of different network types. Overall, understanding cognitive styles and building complementary networks can enhance individual and organizational success. [Extracted from the article]