Making connections

We often talk about making connections or networking as a critical part of management and business. What do we actually mean?

Connecting with people - I often hear people say how they have to go to a conference, meeting or social event to meet the people they should be meeting. I wonder at the value of those kind of connections - in a room of 800 people how many do you actually get to talk to during the day maybe twenty if you are lucky during coffee and lunch breaks. Unless you have pre-planned the twenty you want to see and manufacture chance meetings the probability is that you will only meet four or five people that it was valuable to meet and you only have a couple of minutes to make your pitch. It is a bit like speed dating. I wonder is if the value of conferences and the like is that you must be "seen" to be there, that you are "seen to be on the cutting edge" ? After all most papers or speeches are now freely available on the internet afterwards, even the videos of the actual speeches.

Connecting with like minded people - Do you  choose the  people you think will be most open to your ideas and  goals?  Do you identify where you are most likely to meet them and what you can offer them too? After all, this is a two-way street. It is actually quite hard to find like minded people for a start there are not so many around - but why sow your seed on infertile ground?

Connecting with ideas - Whilst people are key to communication, they can also prove barriers to communication too. Can you communicate your idea so clearly that it cannot be misinterpreted?  Have you thought about the best channels and networks, the best way to promote your ideas and vision?

Connecting for energy -  If you are a group of people with the same or similar ideas, your  combined energies are more likely to see  a project reach fruition  than if you battle along on your own. Many discoveries and innovations never reach the public attention and markets because someone wanted to keep it as their idea alone and they wanted sole recognition. Is the idea or goal more important than individual recognition? Does group recognition or collaboration actually reduce your own personal achievement?

Connecting through leadership - The best ideas are often new and innovative. People  generally don't like new ideas or change so  if you want  to encourage individuals to accept your ideas then you have to connect by showing leadership. People have to know why they should agree with you, why they should follow your lead.

I really like the Charles Eames quote about connection: "Eventually everything connects - people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality per se."