Employee Networking Behavior: Sources, Challenges, and Support

Networking behavior helps enhance employees’ success in work and career domains, but importantly, it may be helpful for organizations in improving their ability to coordinate, internally and externally, and innovate. Based on existing literature, critical factors that serve as antecedents of employee networking within organizations, including individual and organizational factors, are identified. Next, potential challenges employees may encounter in networking are highlighted. To conclude, several actions human resource development (HRD) practitioners can take to promote networking behavior within organizations and its associated benefits are discussed.