Just had a class on social networks. The lecturer, Jonathan Pinto, gave us his personal tips on networking. His emphasis is not on the strategic, slightly cynical approach typically associated with MBAs. He is about spreading the net wide, getting as much diversity and depth in your networks as possible. He prescribes taking advantage of every situation, whether it be on a tube platform or in more obvious networking locations. It is more about personal fulfilment than getting ahead, but he also argues that from all this networking can come the 1% that will get you ahead. Here are his tips:
- Networks power can supplement/complement/substitute for other power
- Never turn down an opportunity
- Work expands to fill time available
- Necessity is the mother of invention
- Opportunity-provider may never offer you another
- You may never know what it could lead to (butterfly effect, domino effect)
- Exploit ‘dead’ time ie waiting in queues, on bus train
- Take risks
- Try activities you have never tried before e.g. art, theatre, dance, music
- Initiate conversations
- Listen to / engage with anyone and everyone
- High energy / high cheerfulness almost always a big positive
- If you make a promise, keep it
- Being strategic i.e. schmoozer or working the room could backfire