Mary, Mary Quite Contrary How Does Your Network Grow?
Yes, I took a little literary license with the children’s rhyme; but, if you are a networker, the question is relevant. How does your network grow? Is it even growing?
Small Networks Limit Your Opportunities
Many people intentionally keep their networks small for a variety of, what I consider, irrational reasons. What they fail to recognize is small networks limit opportunities.
One frequent reason I hear is they only want “people that they “know well” in their network.
In fact LinkedIn is a culprit in fostering this idea. LinkedIn tells you that you should only invite people that you know well. While at the same time LinkedIn encourages you to subscribe to a premium service that allows you to easily connect with those you do not know. To me this is a contradictory and a disservice to their users!
The idea of only connecting with those that you know well is a self-limiting mentality.
When your network consists primarily of people that you “know well” you are surrounding yourself with people that essentially know all the same things that you know.
Small networks limit the influx of new:
- Ideas;
- Thoughts; and most importantly
- Opportunities.
Small Networks Cause Personal Stagnation
When you have a small network comprised of people that you “know well” you keep new ideas and opportunities out. When you cannot grow with new ideas and opportunities your only option is to stagnate.
Stagnation Makes You Less Desirable
Stagnation makes you unattractive to potential employers, business partners, and even customers. In today’s world connections are critical. Employers and business partners look for connections because they are key to growth. Some businesses are now looking at the number of connections prospective employees will bring and making hiring decisions based upon these numbers.
Is Your Network Growing?
Have you added connections from your current work, your associations, your volunteer activities, and your previous work experiences? Do you look for opportunities to continually grow your network?
Growing your network is a critical activity that requires daily effort; not massive time, just 15 – 30 minutes each day.
Conclusion
If you are not looking for opportunities; if you do not want personal growth; if you are not interested in being a thought influencer; then by all means keep your network small. On the hand if you do want these things and you are not good at networking; it is time for change.
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Tom Staskiewicz speaks and coaches on Professional and Business Networking and how Social Media is a tool in that process. He helps businesses, organizations, and individuals understand the power of networking and recognize that networking is a tool for giving.
Tom believes that when you give value to your network; your network will give value back to you. Using today’s Social Media tools makes Professional and Business Networking more efficient, improves decisions, and enables you to respond more effectively to your audiences.
Do you want to be more effective with your Professional and Business Networking? Would you like to be making more “warm” contacts instead of “cold” calls? Contact Tom to learn more about how he can help you and/or your organization reach your networking goals.
Tags: career advice, Connecting, Connections, LinkedIn, Social Networking
