Universal Guide to Networking with Terry Bean
If you have been out networking for a while you have heard of the Q v. Q debate. You know the one that pits Quality v. Quantity. What a strange argument this is. Especially since the answer is totally clear. Oh, it's not clear? Then read on...
In the red corner with a reach of over 300 million, we have the "Quantity" camp. These folks believe that any issue can be solved if you have enough connections.
In the blue corner touting 100% call back rate, we have the "Quality" camp. These folks hold fast to the ideology of keeping those relationships with people who already know like and trust you (thank you Bob Burg for that wonderful combination of words).
A "quantity" person can suggest many different people and even more "types" of people who can help you. They make introductions and pride themselves on being connectors. In their truest sense, they are quick to connect with anyone who has a pulse and can fog a mirror. On some sites they may be a little more reserved on this.
A "quality" person on the other hand may not connect with online even if you left a lunch meeting together. They are careful about who they "allow" into their network and even more so about who they refer. You can be assured that if they refer you to one of their connections, actions will take place.
So which way should lean? BOTH!!!
Here's the deal. The Universe likes speed.
There are times when you will need to meet new resources NOW to fulfill the tasks at hand. Maybe those resources are connected to your "quality" network. But often, they will be an extension of that network and as such will travel in your "quantity" network circles.
If you aren't open to accepting new acquaintances or to tightening relationships you have had for a while, you will miss out.
Be connected! Terry Bean
Terry Bean is the founder of www.motorcityconnect.com, Detroit's fastest growing networking group. He is also the founder of www.networkedinc.com- a business development training firm that focuses on helping people make more productive use of their online and offline networking time. Terry provides training and large scale presentations on networking, social media usage and universal laws. Hot off the press, Terry just released his first CD entitled "The Five U's of Networking" e-mail tbean@networkedinc.com to reserve your copy.
For more information, please visit Terry's TNNW Bio.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO NETWORKING: The Universe Weighs in on the Q v.Q debate
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The Emergence of The Relationship Economy
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3 comments:
You are absolutely correct that both approaches have a role. It's not black or white.
The biggest problem is where people simple 'number collect' with no effort to forge relationships with those people in their network. They can be readily identified, they are the ones who send a standard connection request to everyone, never ask a genuine question about others and fail to develop the conversation after the connection has been established.
The larger your network and the more tenuous your links with it, the harder it can be to find the connection you want. Ask someone with 30,000 contacts to recommend one person and see how effective they are. Next time, ask them to look for a needle in a haystack.
You do need to keep growing your network, but it's far better to do so with people you are genuinely connected to.
LinkedIn is not a video game - http://detroitnet.org/post/don-t-be-that-guy-volume-5-linkedin-is-not-a-video-game
Andy-
Your point is well made, but in the NOW world access to people is almost as important as "know like and trust".
Business moves really fast. Being able to connect to the right folks now is key. Having a large, searchable network allows that to happen.
While tight relationships are king, being able to build new ones fast is prince among business development.
Thanks for your insight.
And is anonymous Dave by any change ;-)
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