Rekindling connections with people from your past can lead to valuable opportunities and benefits over time.
Focusing on adding value to others without expecting anything in return can help build strong and mutually beneficial relationships.
Understanding the different interaction styles, such as givers, matchers, and takers, is crucial in fostering healthy and balanced networking connections.
Deep dives
Reconnecting and Staying in Touch: Maintaining Relationships
Rekindling connections with people you used to know is a valuable practice. By simply reaching out to one person each month, you can establish 12 fruitful connections per year. The key is to stay in touch with those who were once a part of your life, without needing a strategic approach. This practice can lead to various opportunities and benefits over time.
Adding Value in Connections: Making Meaningful Connections
When connecting with others, it is crucial to focus on adding value rather than being a pest. Offering assistance without expecting anything in return can make a significant difference in building relationships. This includes sharing knowledge, helping others pursue similar paths, making introductions, and showing support. By understanding others' needs and challenges, you can provide valuable assistance and foster mutually beneficial connections.
Matchers, Takers, and Givers: Building a Positive Reputation
Understanding the different interaction styles is vital. Matchers aim for a balance between giving and taking, while takers predominantly focus on self-benefit. Givers, however, often provide without expecting reciprocity. Matchers, by nature, detest takers' behavior, and their vigilance helps prevent takers from thriving. Being aware of reputational consequences, givers may inform others about takers' actions, ensuring that reputations reflect their true behavior.
The Power of the Five Minute Favor
The podcast episode discusses the concept of the five minute favor, a practice that involves adding value to other people's lives at a low personal cost. The speaker shares the story of Adam Rifkin, who made a commitment to make three introductions every day and has connected numerous people, leading to the creation of companies and even accidental marriages. The five minute favor is about finding ways to help others that require minimal effort but have a high impact. It emphasizes the importance of being a giver and creating mutually beneficial connections.
Reconnecting with Dormant Ties
The podcast highlights the significance of reaching out to dormant ties, people from one's past who can provide valuable insights and connections. The speaker explains that reaching out to dormant ties often leads to better knowledge and advice as compared to current strong ties. While some individuals may hesitate to reconnect due to fears of being a burden, research shows that dormant ties are often eager to reciprocate and help. The podcast encourages people to make a habit of reconnecting with one dormant tie every month to enhance their network and uncover new opportunities.
Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant) is Wharton’s top-rated professor, the host of podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant, and the author of several New York Times Best Sellers. Here, he joined us to discuss Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success. [Note: This is a previously broadcast episode from the vault that we felt deserved a fresh pass through your earholes!]
What We Discuss with Adam Grant:
How to give to someone you don’t know without being awkward and transactional.
What stage gates are and how you should use them.
How to avoid committing social capital suicide.
What Abraham Lincoln could teach us about the power of powerless communication.
Why you'll be a better, more effective giver if you practice chunking rather than sprinkling.
