Crypto-Effectology  

If you aren't going to be a lone wolf, then you need a pack to run with. So will any old pack do? The short answer is NO. The full answer is a little more involved. First, let me drop the wolf metaphor; unlike wolves we humans can belong to or at least associate with multiple groups. However, we have limited time and resources so it is impossible to give a large amount of attention to a wide variety of groups.

We belong to a number of networks or groups by default: school classmates or former classmates, office mates (if you work in an office), family, neighbors. Members of some of these networks can be invaluable in helping you cope with some of the more common changes that occur on a day to day basis (just as an example, when my car needed to be serviced over a weekend recently my wife's family lent us one of their cars so we wouldn't be grounded).

It is the out of the ordinary change that can often go outside of the expertise or experience of our immediate (and most comfortable) networks. The solution, so we are told, is to expand our network... do the "networking" thing. Unfortunately, much of networking is "shotgun" style: point, blast, hope the spray hits something.

Choose your networking efforts based on the challenges or changes you are trying to address. Remember that the most effective networking requires developing relationships, and we have limited bandwidth for those relationships. Look at the organization sponsoring a networking event. Who are they aiming at? If it is a "business networking" group you can bet the attendees are mostly concerned about finding referrals and leads. A lot of service groups attract an extremely diverse crowd. Check around your existing networks to see if anyone has any experience with a group.

This approach may sound cold, impersonal, and analytical, but networking is a tool. If you want to survive change, then you need to use the tools around you effectively. Not everyone can help you with the changes you are trying to make or deal with. Find the ones who can, and work hard to develop strong relationships with them. And the others? Well, you can always add them in with the rest of your 1,500 friends on Facebook; who knows maybe they will become part of your inner circle at a later date for a different set of reasons.


24 February, 2010 | mtomsho

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