Loud Thinking

THE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY: Harvard Business Review

May 5, 2015

Expand Your Network Beyond the Usual Players

We all know that a network is important for success, but few of us devote sufficient time to making it useful. If you leave things to chance, your network will be too inward-facing and not diverse enough. You need to learn to network outside your organization, team, and close connections. Here are some practical steps to start developing a stronger network:
Visit a start-up within your sector. Consider why incumbents rarely lead the way in new products and services.
Attend a new conference.
Start a LinkedIn or Facebook group.
Teach a course at a local college. Learn from your students.
Go to lunch with a peer from a competing company. Learn more about your market value.
Connect with someone you’ve lost track of. Ask this person to help you connect with someone new.

Adapted from “How to Revive a Tired Network” by Herminia Ibarra.