In Networlding I make it even more simple for building a network by taking that network down to ten people and referring to it as a your “Power-of-Ten” Circle. Sociologists (which I am one) refer to this circle as your “primary circle.” So to bring your Power-of-Ten Circle to life think of Oprah and her circle. Who would be in that circle or alliance network? How about:

1. Suzie Orman - financial sage and the author of nine books, including her latest, Suze Orman’s 2009 Action Plan
2. Nate Berkus – Nate Berkus is a featured design expert for The Oprah Winfrey Show and a regular contributor to the pages of O at Home.
3. Lisa Kogan – 40 something columnist for Oprah’s magazine.
4. Dr. Maya Angelou - hailed as a remarkable Renaissance woman, a beloved poet and best-selling author, Dr. Angelou has the unique ability to captivate listeners through the vigor and sheer beauty of her lyrics and words.
5. Dr. Katz – nationally renowned authority on nutrition and chronic disease prevention and columnist—is here to help you digest it all. O, The Oprah Magazine
6. Adam Glassman – the creative director of O, The Oprah Magazine tells you what your best friends won’t. Adam fields questions from readers on everything from age-appropriate clothing to how to be comfortable and still look great during a long airplane flight.
7. Martha Beck – life coach and O, The Oprah Magazine columnist Martha Beck has the blueprint to stress-free living.
8. Bob Greene - Bob Greene is an exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism and weight loss.
9. Dr. Oz - Dr. Oz is the health expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He is chief medical consultant to Discovery Communications and has hosted several shows, including Second Opinion with Dr. Oz and Life Line.
10. John St. Augustine - He is the author of Living an Uncommon Life: Essential Lessons from 21 Extraordinary People and a sought-after speaker on human potential and purpose. Now, John’s hosting his own show on Oprah Radio, interviewing some of the world’s most influential thinkers, leaders and experts on personal empowerment. (Networlding Note: John was connected to Oprah through someone from Networlding and that is how he made the great connection. He is one of my favorite people and the best talk show host. I met John years ago when I was on his radio show after writing Angels in the Workplace).

Of course there are others, but realistically there is still the phenomenon that exists in the science of networks called “The Law of the Few” which essentially states that it will be the few people you know that will really make the difference in your life. Gladwell refers to people as “sales people,” “mavens” and “connectors.” In Networlding I say that people can have all three abilities. When they do I call them “Networlders.” Also, note that I believe people can also learn and build these skills. Of course some people won’t be as good as others but then they can always surround themselves with a Power-of-Ten Network or Networld as Oprah has.

Playing out this real power network even further by folding into it the element of values-based networking, you don’t have to wonder too much whether the above ten people in Oprah’s network have similar and complimentary values which is what I have found is needed to leverage a successful network. From what I know of the above ten they are all true leaders and create additional value by being part of Oprah’s network and vice versa.

So now ask yourself who should be in your Power-of-Ten Circle? Want to start a circle yourself? Email us at info@networlding.com and we’ll help you get started.

I was having a great conversation with a long-time colleague and friend, Stephen Meade last evening that lead to a discussion around what creates great social networking. Stephen offered the following insights:

People love recognition, referrals, and revenue. To that end, I love making introductions.
However, keep in mind the 3 C’s when you do so.

Make a referral, but hope you get back:

1. Credit (for the referral, especially when other people use your contact for their benefit, they should give you public credit for the introduction)
2. Contacts (that can help you and your business)
3. Compensation (If and when appropriate, compensation)

I was pleased to see such a simple overview of what often goes unsaid in a networking exchange. So, I ask you, how many times have you connected with someone who reached out to you where you ended up offering support in the form of ideas or leads or even referrals where you got back absolutely nothing?

If you wonder what you can do to avoid these experiences I recommend that you create upfront contracts with your networking partners. Share with them what your expectations are and ask them what their expectations are emphasizing that the more clearly you share intentions the better the outcomes for you and your networking colleagues.

What do you think? Are there other ways you have seen work well to better ensure successful outcomes for your networking? Please comment below and share this with your colleagues to get their input.

They will affect how individuals, communities, and companies organize themselves, where companies and communities stop and start, how individuals balance their different identities as consumers, employees, shareholders, and citizens, how people define themselves politically, and what role government plays in managing all of this flux.”

Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat

It was just a couple of years ago when I went to networking events that people would walk up to me and say, “I hear your name everywhere. But what surprises me is that I hear it from different people I know–people who I know, don’t know one another. What are the chances of that happening?” Today that statement would probably not come out many peoples’ mouths do to the rapid learning we have had around social networking. Now we know that six degrees of separation have now, when done right, turned into, rather, “Two Degrees of Connection.”

So what are some things around branding that if you leverage you can make useful for you and your organization? Here are just three to start with:

1. You are now more the brand than your employer–if you choose to be. Today employees, whether they realize it or not, are their companies brands even if they are no longer employees. Why? Well, if you are one of the millions who have a profile on LinkedIn your name can pull up along with your company’s name as readily as any article on your company–even if you are no longer employeed by your company. Remember that LinkedIn asks you in your profile to list past employers. Now that listing is part of Google or any other search engine search and stays there, for the most part, forever. 
    
2. With the combination of “Brand You” and company brand organizations can grow brand equity and loyalty exponentially. I was recently working with one of the top construction companies in Chicago. I was hosting a social media workshop and shared that if they rallied their fifty current employees and had them focus on the good things they were doing in the community already, potential clients would see that the organization was dedicated to making a difference and would stand out from their competitors. It gave their employees a focus for their social activities–one that would also grow each employee’s career as they got recognition for their good work.
    
3. Brand is now becoming a much bigger topic that companies and individuals MUST pay attention to daily. Two weeks ago I was at a talk for senior vice presidents of leadership at companies like UPS, Home Depot and Marriott. These were HR executives wondering about how to effectively build internal networks within their organizations. My team and I had done about six months of research on the growing interest but slow moving implementation compared to marketing departments, HR departments had around social networking. What our research showed was that there is a strong need for organizations to realize the convergence of marketing and HR. Why?What is happening is that companies are attracting or repelling new hires based on their social capital score if you will. Why would new hires want to work at a company that they can easily see has hundreds of communication bottlenecks and walls? All an employee has to do now is listen to one of the grapevines on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. and know which companies have more open networks. Also, you can easily look on any of the company pages on LinkedIn and compare a company with any of their competitors. You can tell a lot from the levels of individuals who have many connections on LinkedIn which organizations have the better networkers. Why wouldn’t you want to be at those organizations? Wouldn’t you want to go to a live networking event  where is higher level management present? Now you can tell which companies have the best networks and join those organizations. So, now, with the science of networks as I call it staring us straight in the face, playing out every day inside and outside of companies–it is very self evident that companies need to take a look at their branding and realize just as the saying used often was, “Everyone in an organization is a sales person.” Now it will be, “Everyone in an organization is active in branding.” The best thing organizations large and small can do is to realize that you must involve not just the marketing department but sales, human resources, IT, accounting and so on and so on.  

Do you have something more to add?  What other questions to you have? 

Good stories should be shared. Melissa received this letter this week and would like to share Lois’ story with you.

Good Afternoon,
My name is Lois Mailander,MD. cardiologist in Metairie,La. I was
completely enamored with your presentation on Building Your Networld in
Chicago last week held at the W Hotel. Following
your advice I was able to engage in networking with “new friends” in
attempting to initiate an EKG screening program for high school athletes.
I also want to share a program that my son, Gordon initiated entitled
OPERATION HELP(help educate Louisianna pupils.) Through his networking he was able to collect approximatele 1800 books.
Please feel free to pass his letter along to whom you deem appropriate.
I am so looking foward to reading your book!
My best to you,

Cordially,

Lois