1. Ronald K. Bolender 1 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Knox National Management Association November 5, 2007 Dr. Ronald Bolender

2. Ronald K. Bolender 2 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Leadership is relational. To enhance the relational aspect of leadership, one must develop and maintain a meaningful social/professional network. One aspect of the network process is mentorship, a developmental relationship between professionals. This session will present the concept, components, and application of relationship building via social/professional networking and mentoring. (Bolender, 2007)

3. Ronald K. Bolender 3 How to Build Your Network Does serendipitous networking produce results?

4. Ronald K. Bolender 4 How to Build Your Network

5. Ronald K. Bolender 5 How to Build Your Network Mary Gates John Akers Bill Gates And then there was…

6. Ronald K. Bolender 6 How to Build Your Network A Powerful System Networks deliver three unique advantages: – Private Information – Access to diverse skill sets – Power (Uzzi & Dunlap, 2005, p. 54)

7. Ronald K. Bolender 7 How to Build Your Network – Most personal networks are highly clustered—that is, an individual’s friends are likely to be friends with one another as well. – Most organizational networks are made up of several clusters but with few links between them. Brokers are especially powerful because they connect separate clusters, thus stimulating collaboration and exploiting arbitrage among otherwise independent specialists. (Uzzi & Dunlap, 2005, pp. 55-56)

8. Ronald K. Bolender 8 How to Build Your Network Two Common Issues Regarding Networks Self-similarity Principle – The network is too inbred – You tend to choose people who resemble you in terms of experience, training, worldview, etc. Proximity Principle – Your network is populated by people who interact with you are on regular basis. (Uzzi & Dunlap, 2005, pp. 56-57)

9. Ronald K. Bolender 9 How to Build Your Network Both of these principles hinder the development of a diverse network.

10. Ronald K. Bolender 10 How to Build Your Network Forge Better Connections Shared Activities Principle – The best way to break through the barriers created by the self-similarity and proximity principles is by using the shared activities principle. – One can participate in and benefit from a variety of shared activities, including sports teams, community service ventures, interdepartmental initiatives, voluntary associations, for-profit boards, cross-functional teams, and charitable foundations. (Uzzi & Dunlap, 2005, p. 58)

11. Ronald K. Bolender 11 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship

12. Ronald K. Bolender 12 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Here are the essential questions to ask yourself for making networking an effective relationship tool. Do I have a 5-year networking plan? Do I have a list of the organizations where I can benefit the most? Who are the most important people that I must contact? How much time must I commit? (Gitomer, 2006, p. 87)

13. Ronald K. Bolender 13 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Universal Truth of Connecting The real rule of “give and take” is: Before you can take, you gotta give. (Gitomer, 2006, p. 159)

14. Ronald K. Bolender 14 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship value Providing value is a key to developing a rich, meaningful network.

15. Ronald K. Bolender 15 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Providing value to someone is a whole new way of thinking. It means give first rather than “ask for” first. It means helping others so that they will look forward to helping you back. (Gitomer, 2006, p. 51)

16. Ronald K. Bolender 16 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship Mentorship Mentoring is connected with social/professional networking. While finding a mentor is a great network developing strategy—becoming a mentor is an indirect means for expanding/deepening one’s network.

17. Ronald K. Bolender 17 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship – Role, model – Guide – Supporter – Adviser – Trusted counselor – Leader – Friend – Listener – Knowledgeable – Shares resources – Networker Carruthers (1993, p. 20) lists the following qualities related to mentorship.

18. Ronald K. Bolender 18 Leadership: Social/Professional Networking and Mentorship References Bolender, R. K. (2007). Mount Vernon, OH: Unpublished. Carruthers, J. (1993). The principles and practice of mentoring. In B. J. Caldwell & E. M. A. Carter (Eds.), The return of the mentor: Strategies for workplace learning (pp. 9-24). Washington, DC: The Falmer Press. Gitomer, J. (2006). Little black book of connections: 6.5 assets for networking your way to rich relationships. Austin, TX: Bard Press. Uzzi, B., & Dunlap, S. (2005, December). How to build your network. Harvard Business Review, 83(12), 53-60.