Building a Better Auditor: Overcoming Networking Challenges

Our profession requires us to work with new stakeholders, audit unfamiliar areas, delve into risk discussions with leaders, engage with senior executives, use influencing skills to highlight the value of audit actions, gain buy-in, and generally do difficult things — all of which hold a degree of risk and potential rejection. So why do auditors struggle when networking within our own profession, a “safer environment” and one where the risks are much lower? Perhaps auditors naturally have a higher degree of professional skepticism and therefore don’t trust networking or see the benefits. For some internal auditors, networking simply may not be a natural skill. However, once auditors adopt a strategic approach to networking and master it, I’m confident they will be successful.

My top five tips on how I succeeded in my networking efforts:

1. Attend industry conferences.

Attend as many conferences as relevant (starting with the IIA!) and be prepared to network. Reach out to your existing network and arrange to meet up for coffee or ask your existing colleagues if they are attending. To build confidence, come prepared with a few “starter questions,” as a little preparation goes a long way! Or set a target to speak and connect with at least five new people. As my own networking skills developed, I began to actively “network with purpose” and sought out people at conferences and events I wanted to meet. In nearly every instance, the people I met with have been happy to connect and engage in conversation.

2. Dedicate time.

A common complaint I hear from my mentees is they don’t have time to network. Let’s face it, we are all busy! Auditors should approach networking in the same way we do other areas of our work, which means we must invest time into developing and nurturing relationships. It needn’t be time-intensive, but the occasional message helps to keep relationships “warm.” For example, I’ve maintained strong bonds with my former colleagues and line managers who, over the years, have provided career guidance, introduced me to their networks, invited me to events, connected me with sponsors, shared audit best practices, and provided support on an array of topics — all of which proved invaluable for my development.

3. Use social media.

Use LinkedIn both passively and proactively. I must admit, I was quite late to networking via LinkedIn and only saw the true potential a couple of years ago. I “follow” many internal audit thought leaders who have helped shape my own ideas. I’ve also shared my views, engaged in healthy discussions, and examined different angles for audit innovation. The upside? I have received opportunities to participate in webinars, invitations for author contributions, and requests to be interviewed on audit podcasts. We’ve all heard the term “who you know” when discussing networking and career opportunities, but LinkedIn is a way to share “who you are” within the community, which may open up all manner of future opportunities. Our industry is rapidly changing and, as agents of change, we need to continuously innovate to keep up. LinkedIn is a great resource of knowledge to enable this.

4. Participate in professional membership bodies.

Actively engage with professional membership bodies, such as The IIA, which provide a wealth of resources to expand knowledge and opportunities to network. Most membership bodies seek volunteers to join working groups to help shape the future of the profession. As an example, I am part of the steering committee for IIA UK’s Race and Ethnicity community and have met new audit professionals through this, which has expanded my network. I’m also a member of IIA dedicated groups who meet to share ideas on fraud, data analytics and artificial intelligence, all of which improves our knowledge and opportunities to network. These opportunities can help propel auditors to get to where they want in their careers and strengthen their presence within the audit community.

5. Be genuine and authentic.

Oscar Wilde, the Irish author and playwright once said, “Don’t waste time being someone you are not; everyone else is taken.” I’ve always been an advocate of bringing your true self to work and helping shape cultures to support this. Building authentic relationships is the foundation of successful networking, and showing a genuine interest and curiosity in others is key to building trust and creating long-lasting connections.