Do you want to be more successful and increase your chances of reaching your goals?
Of course you do. So you probably know that you need to network. A good network is like a spider’s web
Without it, you’ll never entrap what you’re after.
1. Strategic relationships
Strategic relationships have numerous advantages. Most crucially, people will base judgments about your identity and social status on your network.
If people know you know Mark Zuckerberg personally, for example, they will look at you differently, even though you don’t share his accomplishments. Your network, therefore, differentiates you from other people.
So, do you have a strong strategic network? Ask yourself these questions:
How big is your strategic quotient, that is, the proportion of strategic relationships you have compared to other network relationships?
How many people do you talk to on a regular basis? And does this communication create added value?
Do you have a “wish list” of people you want to connect with? And do you have a plan to make your wishes come true?
2. Figure out who is most important for your network
When was the last time you helped someone by introducing them to someone else who could solve their problem?
Well, connectors bring people with resources and networks together in order to form a group that works for the greater good.
All of us, have a limited time. Thus, organization and priorities are extremly important. It’s a good idea to categorize your relationships with people in rings, like a onion, with the most important at the center.
Your Top 5 represents your inner circle. These are the people who you really feel close to.
The next circle is your Key 50, the 50 people with whom you have valuable relationships, like your friends and associates.
The last circle is your Vital 100, your more distant friends and business acquaintances.
3. Look for diversity and depth
It might sound obvious, but people have a lot in common with their friends, at least they share the same interests and values. But is this similarity healthy for your business network?
Actually, not at all. Heterogeneity drives innovation and creativity, so it’s worth your time to get out of your comfort zone and make your network wide, deep and robust.
Developing a wide, deep and robust network might seem like a tall order. Luckily, there is one simple trick you can use to make it happen:
Look for people who disagree with you
You want these different people in your life because the greater the difference, the likelier it is that they can connect you with people you couldn’t have connceted with on your own.
4. Find the right environment for your network
Think about where you want to go in your professional life. In every area and industry, there are centers of power where you can best find the resources to get you where you want to go.
If you’re writing a book, for instance, you can basically work wherever you want. However, unless you’re in the right place, you might find yourself stuck when it’s time to publish. To have the best chance at publishing, you have to find the publishing ecosystem in your country.
Ask yourself these questions, before your trying to enter:
- Who do you want to meet?
- What do you have to offer?
- Are you a good match for the target ecosystem?
5. Preparation and targeting
So how can you get the most from your network?
The connecting system consists of four phases:
Preparation, targeting, reconnecting, and connecting your conncetions.
During the preparation phase, you assess where you stand right now and where you want to go, and then set up a plan for getting there.
In the second phase, you identify a target and prepare for your first encounter with that person.
Once you feel comfortable making contact with your target, it’s time to start thinking about phases three and four.