🎒 Microlesson

🪞 Reflect

When you need an answer quickly, who do you reach out to for help? Do you feel confident you’re connecting with the right person—or are you wasting time guessing?

💡 Concept

Remote work can make it harder to build a strong internal network. Without casual hallway chats, team lunches, or chance encounters, it can be hard to find the right person or resource when you need them. Developing intentional strategies for locating information and connecting with colleagues ensures you can get answers faster, build your influence, and stay productive.

Here are some practical strategies:

🗺️ Map your knowledge network: Identify key people for different types of information—Who could answer project-specific questions, offer technical advice, or field more strategic queries? Keep a simple list or start a shared doc for easy reference.

🤖 Leverage your tools: Use internal chat channels, wikis, or knowledge bases to gather information before you ask for someone’s time and advice. Many answers are likely already documented.

❓ Ask targeted questions: When you do reach out, be specific. Include the context of the issue, what steps you’ve already tried, and the exact help you need. This saves time for both you and the person you’re contacting.

👋 Expand your network intentionally: Schedule brief virtual coffees or check-ins with colleagues outside your immediate team. It’s important to build relationships gradually, and to make sure you’re not just connecting when you need something.

💡 Follow up and share what you’ve learned: When you get an answer, document it in a shared location. This strengthens your network and makes you a go-to resource for others. 

🎬 Take Action

Choose one action to try over the next two weeks:

• Build a contact list: Make a note of the key people in your organization who would be good resources for different types of questions.

• Use your tools first: Check for answers in internal wikis, documentation, or chat channels before asking around.

• Ask precise questions: Be prepared to describe the context and specifics of an issue before reaching out to someone for help.

• Schedule a virtual coffee: Meet one new colleague to expand your network.

• Document answers: Record useful information in a shared doc or internal wiki so others can benefit from a growing knowledge base.

After two weeks, reflect: Did you get answers faster or make stronger connections? Which approaches helped you the most?

🧠 Keep Learning

Learn more about how to build social capital in Growplaceless.

✅ Check In

🎁 Learn with your team!

Refer our weekly microlessons to your team members to learn as a group! Just follow the instructions in the section below to get started.