Are You a Good Networker?

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CNN's John Sutter talks about the fallacy of "networking means meeting total strangers" He says you can provide more value by not being a close friend sometimes. The idea that we all exist inside a network, some are close ties, some are weak ties and some are dormant ties is important to understand.

David Burkus: Friend of a Friend David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought-after speaker, and an associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University. His TED talk has been viewed over 1.8 million times, he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, and he’s now listed on Thinkers50. He’s just released his new book, Friend of a Friend*. Key Points Networking should not just be about meeting total strangers. Constantly providing value to your network doesn’t mean you have to be close friends with everyone. It’s impossible to maintain close ties with everyone in your network. Don’t just rely on close connections, because they’re likely in the same circles as you. Weak ties are more likely to provide valuable information. When networking, it’s fine to start with your close connections to warm up, but you can’t stop there. Don’t let your connections get too dormant — regularly engage with them. Follow people on social media to know what’s going on in their lives, and then send them a personal message. Make your inner circle diverse to be sure you’re getting the wide-ranging insight you need. A diverse network will give you information you wouldn’t otherwise have. Resources Mentioned Friend of a Friend* by David Burkus How To Give and Get The Introductions That Will Transform Your Life and Your Career Book Notes Download my highlights from Friend of a Friend in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes How Superbosses Master the Flow of Talent, with Sydney Finkelstein (episode 236) New Management Practices of Leading Organizations, with David Burkus (episode 253) How to Deal With the Diminishers, with Liz Wiseman (episode 305) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.