Your Network Is An Important Asset
We hear constantly about the importance of networking and even about the value of our network. We also hear that we need to nurture and care for our network. Although, the above statements are true, there is one critically important part of your network that has not been discussed.
Your network should be a reflection of who you want to be and what you want to do. If you are spending your time simply adding people that are just like you, then you will continue to get the same thing out of your network. This is a frequently overlooked piece of the networking puzzle. You need to be adding value to your network; not just names.
Have you ever heard the old adage that we are the average of our five closest friends? Basically this means that if three or more of your friends drive a Ford Taurus; you probably drive a Ford Taurus. The tendency is to live within the expectations of your Social Groups. Your network can operate on that same premise.
Before getting into your network goals and your growth strategy for your network it is important to understand the functions of a network.
What Are the Benefits That You Can Provide Your Network?
Before you can receive from your network; you must first be willing to give to your network. Some of the big questions are:
What can I give?
What effort will it take?
Is this going to take a lot of my time?
The first thing that needs to be done is for you to remove those questions from your mind. Concerning yourself with what is in it for you, is the wrong way to network. Your first concern must be your network, when you give your network the priority it deserves your rewards will come.
What Are the Benefits That Your Network Can Provide To You?
There are many things that one can give to their network including:
Time
Talents
Advice
Connections
Answers
Referrals
Recommendations
Appreciation
Introductions
Adulation
Recognition
Why is giving to your network important and what does it do for you?
These are some of the benefits you derive by giving to your network, listed in the order I perceive as being the most important.
Trust
Credibility
Reliability
Respectability
A brand
Demonstrate your willingness to share your knowledge
Demonstrate your interest in their wellbeing
Shows a caring mentality
Shows a sharing mindset
The list is not meant to be all inclusive, but it is meant to provide you with an idea as to what you can accomplish.
What Are Your Goals For Your Network?
To communicate effectively you should have an underlying purpose or goal for your network. Without a goal your communication will be unfocused and, therefore, ineffective. Because one of your goals should be to establish a brand it is important that your networking activities support that goal.
Your goals must include reaching most, if not all, of the objectives listed above. Those qualities elicit recommendations and referrals from your network which is your objective.
If you have defined your goals properly it should result in your building a network of people with whom you want to connect and, more importantly, who want to connect with you. A group that you want to be in contact with on a regular basis and a group that will be interested in your message. Once again, and I cannot stress it enough, it is critically important that you have a value to add to your network and that you have a reputation that encourages people to want to connect with you.
Just as there will be people that invite you where they will be the primary benefactor, this same thing can hold true with the people that you want to invite into your network. Be aware of that reality and approach your desired connection accordingly. That does not mean that you should not invite people where you appear to have nothing to offer, it just means you must approach it realistically.
What Is Your Growth Strategy for Your Network?
Now that we have addressed those issues; what is your growth strategy for your network? Who do you want to include and why? You must be looking at this from both giving and receiving perspectives.
Most networks include people where you will be able to provide to them, but the chances of their giving to you are limited. This may impact your decisions to invite, but should never impact your decision to accept an invite.
You may choose to decline an invite based upon other factors such as the invitee’s reputation, the types of people on the invitee’s connections, and there may be other factors. Just do not deny based upon what the individual can do for you.
Sometimes the only thing you might add to an invitee is your admiration for their accomplishments. Do not discount this factor; people like to hear that they are respected and admired for their accomplishments – just be sincere in the praise.
Conclusion
If you care for your network properly and continually add value; it will be your most valuable asset and road to your continued success.
Copyright Tom Staskiewicz
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