Weak Ties - Strong Benefits

Back in 1973 a groundbreaking study about networking was published by Mark Granovetter in the American Journal of Sociology. The title was “The Strength of Weak Ties”. It introduced the now widely accepted theory that weak (or less direct) relationships in our personal network generate results more effectively than direct or strong ties. A broader network results in exposure to more diverse ideas and opportunities. Granovetter wrote another study in 1983, expounding on his original theory. If you are interested, I located his paper online at "The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network Theory Revisited". In my corporate days I was “too busy to spend time on networking”. Therefore, my network was very dense, in my case meaning that I knew few people outside my work environment. Most of us knew the same people and a lot of the same things in the narrow sphere of business in which we normally operated. Busy people like me didn’t spend time purposefully developing relationships with acquaintances or friends of friends. We had our noses to the grindstone, safely within our comfortable, dense little network. I didn’t see the issue at the time, but I do now. In today’s economic climate, if you need to find employment or want to improve or upgrade your current job, the people closest to you in your network are the least likely to be in a position to help. Your close friends often travel in the same circles, but a friend of a friend is privy to a whole different network of people and information. A whole new world can be opened up by expanding your list of contacts and communicating effectively with them. How do you expand your network into a “low-density” network? Cultivating a broader network takes effort and focus, and a spirit of giving. To begin with, get to know people that are connected to your job more tangentially than your co-workers, such as contractors, consultants, or vendors. Keep relationships alive that were born during cross-functional projects. Stay in touch with people you meet at conferences or in training classes. Connect meaningfully with people you meet in religious and/or community organizations. Search out others with passions and interests that overlap yours, and develop a connection. Get out and do new things. Be free with help and advice. Exchange phone numbers and email addresses. Make a phone call just to stay in touch. Drop someone a note or contact them online. A healthy network requires constant work. Reach out and expand your network through your weak ties. I guarantee you will realize benefits you never expected.