Question of the Week: How do I grow and cultivate a real network?
Kevin,
In one of your webinars, you mentioned two types of networks: real and “acquaintance” (or something like that). I would like to know how to cultivate a real network. I don’t really think that I am relationship challenged. It is just the nature of my personality to be calm, cool and collected, and in the background. People don’t really gravitate to me. So anyway, I have 53 LinkedIn connections that span most of my life. But they are mostly acquaintances and they aren’t really people that engage in an equal give and take with me.
This isn’t a personal question. I’m more interested in the professional side. How to I create those professional relationships that can stand the test of time?
Karel
Karel,
You are spot on in your approach. Like I talk about in the Bootcamp, you want to grow your loose (btw- I like “acquaintance”) network so that you can have the best choices for your real network.
Be you – Calm, cool and collected is a great way to be. More importantly, that is you. Remember, the goal here is to find your true audience and for them to “know-like-trust” you. Do this by being yourself . The easiest, and more productive, way to stand out is by being you. Not to mention, you will find it infinitely easier than trying to constantly morph to what you think someone else wants you to be. Which, if hired for, is going to turn out to be a huge disappointment for you both.
OpenNetworker – This is absolutely the easiest way to rapidly grow your loose network with likeminded people who understand “give to get.” I’ve talked about getting quality out of quantity in the past, but it’s worth repeating. You can never assume who may be able to help you or be connected to someone who can help – or even hire – you. So, by broadening your first level connections, you simply give yourself more options to find the people who are your true audience. Focus on pushing your message out and having as many resources as possible to help spread your message…not restricting the flow.
Be a Hub – This is the best way to stand out in the job search. Good economy or bad economy, people need great information. When you provide this – as a hub – you put yourself in the spotlight with your audience (peers and potential hiring managers). The broader your network (hence, OpenNetworker) the greater the likelihood that your audience will get access to your information. Plus, cultivation completely takes care of itself. When you provide great information to your audience, it’s like a self-tending garden. Very little maintenance is required. Plus, by being yourself, they get to self-select when your message resonates with them…letting you know they want to be part of your real network.
By putting this system to work, you will start to see networking as a by-product of you simply being you…versus some shoomzy, alter-ego you feel you have to assume to play the game. You get to be yourself and attract the right opportunities. Sounds like a much simpler way to find a job, right?
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Well Kevin I have to disagree with you in part on this one. Karel wants a network that will stand the test of time. An open network is too loose of a network to do this as people will not know you much less remember you.
Karel is looking for a closer professional network.
My question to Karel is how much work are you willing to put into this network?
LinkedIn is a great place to start. Search on people by the same title as you have. Start with just wanting information about why they chose it and what it is like in their industry or company. Eventually this will lead into a business relationship. Remember to give more than you receive. Stay in touch with these people even if it is just a short message. Answer questions they might have as fully as yo can. Ask pertinent questions.
Join the same group they are in as it makes it easier to stay in touch.
Now to get Kevin off the hook! You also need to diversify your network with people who may use your services or you would work with i.e. customer. This is where the open network can help you find these people to help build your network.
Building a network takes times and it takes work to keep a good network going. Networks are not just for when you are job hunting they can be useful while you are working to bounce ideas around.
Good luck Karel and like Kevin said just be yourself.
Joseph,
Thanks for your comment. My point is that quality and quantity are not mutually exclusive. By engaging in open networking, Karel can braodcast her message (her Solution) to a larger audience. Out of that larger audience, she can then select who will become part of her inner sanctum. And, properly done, that inner sanctum will self-select.
I liken it to filling an auditorium with as many people as possible before you give a presentation. The more people who hear what you have to share – the better. It only increases the likelihood of taking that first step towards exploring a more trusted connection.
That being said, I completely agree with your comment about giving more than you receive. This is of the more liberating, and rewarding, parts of becoming a hub. You will feel better giving, that will make you infinitely more comfortable and lead to stronger, more real connections with thsoe who are potentials for your “real” network.
Thanks again for the comment!
Thanks, Kevin and Joseph, for your thoughts. I need some more time to review your comments. Then I will be back to comment. Life-changing thoughts need more contemplation before commenting on them.
Thanks for the discussion, very informative and useful.
Pam Lassiter, author of The New Job Security, describes two types of networks: “pelicans” vs. “dragonflies.”
Briefly, pelicans are people you know well and who are likely to be in the same career field.You may see them regularly at professional associations. They can help you keep up on what’s happening in your occupation or industry, including new new opportunities. However, your contacts and theirs are likely to overlap quite a bit.
The “dragonflies” are from various sources: friends and family, alumni of your college, members at the same place of worship, neighbors, and people you don’t know as well. For example, you may have served on the same task force at a previous company or your kids were in the same Girl Scout troop. You may exchange holiday cards, but don’t keep in touch regularly. They have a lot of contacts that are different than yours. Dragonflies are often from different occupations, industries, employers, etc. If you need an inside contact at a particular company, dragonflies will expand your reach more than pelicans.
According to Lasster, we should have both pelicans and dragonflies in our network.
Sharon Jones
Coauthor, The Parent’s Crash Course in Career Planning: Helping Your College Student Succeed