To network well, you must not subscribe to the idea that you only need to get a slate of coffee meetings on the calendar, and you can call the task done. You should instead employ the concept of Open Networking with Effect. Open Networking with Effect creates opportunities from well-planned engagements with people well beyond your comfort zone. There’s also a particular way to get the most powerful benefits of your time with someone.
How Open Networking is Different
Open Networking is getting into large networks where you are the central node of connection. Open Networks include people from networks you are unfamiliar with and would seem to be beyond your reach.
Often, people rely on contacts they already have to connect with because networking can feel awkward or unworthy, or they don’t want people to think they are just scheduling meetings to sell something or get something in return. If you only talk with people you already know, your network will remain closed and have a limited effect on your need.
You must be strategic about creating Open Networks where you are the node of connection. If you have completed the CareerTruth exercises for “Market Research For Your Career” and “Selecting Lanes to Pursue,” you are ready to Open Network. In doing good research and making intentional selections of markets you need to network, you will have dozens of data points on types of companies and people to network well beyond people you know.
Robust Open Networks grow through direct and indirect connections with organizations you wish to network for partnerships, best practice sharing, knowledge gain, or employment.
Open Networking is not about getting a job but having a powerful effect that increases your value in the more extensive Open Network—set goals to meet specific targets for the upcoming quarter.
How to Open Network with Effect
1. Get a meeting to discuss ideas.
For those who will genuinely energize your network effect, you can get a meeting by offering them a chance to add value. No one wants to meet with someone who will just beg for a job or sell something.
When trying to Open a Network, you do not need to solely rely on relationships. You rely on ideas.
Great Open Networkers create effect because they have big ideas to share and gain feedback. See the CareerTruth exercise on “Generate and Utilitize Your Big Idea” and build a Big Idea that becomes the currency of your Open Networking.
2. Having a great meeting that adds value.
Leveraging your Big Idea, be prepared, and be a professional. Begin on time, with gratitude, and ask good questions about your guest. Briefly introduce your background, purpose, and the big idea you are prepared to discuss. Your preparation will determine the value of the meeting.
3. Securing direct feedback you need.
Explain why you asked your connection to meet, which includes your desire to hear their specific feedback on the idea. Actively listen and ask questions about how they may handle the problem at the core of your big idea to solve. Tell them about your Open Networking strategy focused on meeting people in your interests and discussing your ideas to meet your purpose.
4. Show willingness to help and respond with gratitude.
As you receive their time and feedback to grow your Open Network effect, you should offer to help them. Close your time together on time and follow up with a thank you note that recaps your time together and commitment to help them in the future.
Create meetings with the right people with a good idea that displays your talents well. One of two things will happen. Either they will offer to introduce you to people you should speak to within their network, or they might ask you for another meeting to explore further who you are and your ideas.
Be strategic about your Open Networking with effect. Use your ideas, not your short-term needs, to correctly display your talents and become the link in your Open Networks.