Importance of Social Connections in Communities

Behind every opportunity is a relationship, and behind every relationship is a conversation. Networking is about building real connections that last and have the potential to help you find your next opportunity. Data shared by the University of Maryland’s Department of Economics indicates you won’t find 70% of available jobs on any site that posts open positions. Those positions are usually found on a company’s internal network, often by referral. In other words, relationships can make the difference between finding a job or not. That’s no surprise to me. Throughout my journey, from engineer to investor, relationships have been a constant driver of growth. Mentors, colleagues and peers have not only opened doors, but also challenged my thinking, sharpened my skills and inspired my vision. Here’s what I have learned: - Be curious: Ask questions that show you care about people’s stories. - Be intentional: Connect with purpose, not just for your own gain. - Be consistent: Follow up, follow through and add value where you can. Networking isn’t a one-time event. It requires maintaining ongoing relationships rooted in trust and genuine interest in other people’s lives. Whether you’re just starting out on your professional journey or deep into your field, relationships are what power careers.

"Why do I need to be active on LinkedIn other than job applications?" When a mentee asked that, I was stunned. I have literally breathed and lived on LinkedIn: before, during, and after my job search. ➡ I started sharing my journey and job struggles, thanks to the power of community ➡ I got 60% of my job interviews through LinkedIn reach outs and networking. If you are not connecting, how are you experiencing growth, community, and a sense of belonging? While a polished resume and relevant skills are undoubtedly essential, the power of networking and belonging to a community can significantly impact your job search success. Here's why having a community matter when you're on the job-seeking journey: 🔎 Networking Opportunities: Building a community provides you with a valuable network of professionals who can offer insights, advice, and potential job leads. Networking opens doors to hidden job opportunities that may not be advertised publicly. 🔎Access to Insider Information: Being part of a community often means gaining access to insider information about companies, industries, and job market trends. Your peers may have valuable insights into specific companies, their hiring processes, or upcoming job openings, giving you a competitive edge in your applications and interviews. 🔎Support and Encouragement: Job searching can be emotionally challenging, especially during prolonged periods of uncertainty. A supportive community can provide a sense of belonging, encouragement, and understanding. 🔎Skill Enhancement and Learning Opportunities: Communities often organize workshops, webinars, and skill-building events. Engaging with these opportunities not only enhances your existing skills but also demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning. Referrals and Recommendations Within a community, you have the chance to build genuine relationships with professionals who may be in a position to recommend you for job opportunities. 🔎Diverse Perspectives and Insights A diverse community exposes you to a variety of perspectives, experiences, and ideas. This diversity can be a valuable asset when navigating the job market, helping you adapt to different workplace cultures and understand the needs and expectations of various industries. 🔎Staying Informed About Industry Trends Communities often serve as hubs for sharing industry news, updates, and emerging trends. Staying informed about the latest developments in your field ensures that you are well-prepared for interviews, able to discuss current industry challenges, and showcase your knowledge to potential employers. The support, insights, and opportunities provided by a community can make a significant difference in your job search success. Tell us why are you on LinkedIn? #linkedin #networking #recruiters #jobseeker #community  

The competition isn't your enemy. Your biggest threat might be ignoring your allies. Many see business as a zero-sum game. But what if the key to success isn't outcompeting others, but lifting them up? In the agency world, where client acquisition is fierce, I've discovered a powerful truth: Focusing on allies is better than racing to the bottom over competitors. It's about creating an ecosystem of mutual benefit, not just a client list. Here are three recent examples from growing Etereo, our design subscription service, that illustrate the power of reciprocity: ▶ Unexpected Partnerships - A political strategy firm I've collaborated with for years became intrigued by Etereo. Instead of viewing them as potential competition, we struck a deal: marketing support for them, promotion for us. Result? They're now one of our highest-paying client/referral. ▶ Clients as Growth Engines - By prioritizing exceptional service and understanding our clients' needs deeply, they've become our best advocates. They not only refer new business but also increase their own spending. This is reciprocity in action - we deliver value consistently, and it comes back to us in multiples. ▶ Online Community Connections - Joining a tech/growth group and creating Linkedin connections has opened doors to new relationships, mutual support, and unforeseen opportunities. By asking tactical questions and showing genuine interest in others' success, I've built connections far beyond simple networking. The lesson? A robust network built on reciprocity is a powerful asset. Those you lift up today may become the pillars of your success tomorrow. It's not about immediate payback, but about fostering an environment of mutual growth and support. This approach requires a shift in mindset. Instead of asking "What can I get?", start with "What can I give?" Be the first to offer help, anticipate needs in your network, and focus on providing real value, not just exchanging business cards. Remember, in the world of business networking, what goes around truly does come around. By embracing reciprocity, we're not just building a network - we're cultivating an ecosystem where everyone can thrive. How has collaboration unexpectedly benefited your business? Share your experiences and let's continue lifting each other up.

Your weak connections create the most job opportunities. An analysis of 20 million people on LinkedIn over five years, 2 billion new connections and 600,000 new job changes concluded: - Weak ties created the most job opportunities for people - A weak tie is defined as "infrequent, arms-length relationships" - They were most helpful in digital industries and less impactful in traditional sectors - Your close friends or mentors may not be the most helpful My own experience matches the findings. My first break into the corporate world was from a series of weak ties (3 different people) who helped me get into #GeneralElectric about 20 years ago when the company initially rejected me for an interview. As a hiring manager today, I find referrals from people I don't know very helpful and have hired based off those referrals or connected them with other jobs. The implications are broader. The same weak tie dynamic can broaden our perspectives, deepen our knowledge and even help us re-skill. The people closest to us tend to look, act and think like us. The people further away can help us grow. Marc Chini Bernard Garrigues Jennifer Maslar Jane (Willis) Mayer - M.Ed., ACC #networking #careerdevelopment #socialnetwork

Networking Is Essential—But It's Not Always About Friends. Here's my 🔥 hot take today.... When you think about networking, the first thing you consider are your "centers of influence." These are defined as folks that know you well and are your best advocates. These can include people like: - Your relatives - Former boss and colleagues - College Friends - People from church or synagogue Shockingly.... these connections are often not as helpful as weaker connections. A team of researchers from Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and LinkedIn recently conducted the largest experimental study to date on the impact of digital job sites on the labor market and found that weaker social connections have a greater beneficial effect on job mobility than stronger ties. I found this to be true in my own life. As a trailing spouse, I've relocated multiple times to support my husband’s career. When we moved to St. Louis, I set my sights on working for a university and applied online. Nothing. Then, I reconnected with an old friend who worked there and included her name on my application.  Still nothing. Someone-- that I didn't know-- introduced me to a board member. After a single conversation, he sent an email on my behalf. Two days later, I got an interview. I have a client who had a similar experience. He wanted to work for a projected unicorn startup. Applied online-- rejected. Then he sent a cold email to the person he thought he might report to at the organization. That email led to a conversation, which led to more conversations... and ultimately a job offer. Executives often believe networking is about strategic alliances more than friendships. They know that the right introductions are often worth more than dozens of applications and can be selective about connections to build influence. Lesson learned: sometimes the most powerful connections are the ones you haven’t met yet. Want to be a smarter connector? I have a YouTube video for you (in comments) that talks about how to build out a target company list, identify decision makers and how to make outreach.

Connection is necessary for allyship. I was once a professor at a university where I felt isolated as one of the only black professors. I’d share ideas as to how we could create a more inclusive environment but no one seemed to buy into them. I soon realized that people’s willingness to support my ideas depended on whether we had a relationship. If I was isolated, I wouldn’t be able to create change. I shared this story with VPs at Comcast where I spoke on Building Inclusive Networks. When we connect: - We feel safer bringing up issues related to our identities - We feel safer receiving feedback on how we can create an inclusive climate - People who don’t share our identities are more comfortable being vulnerable and authentic with us, more generally. We build more mutual understanding. - We collaborate better on creating change. Social change will always occur on the backbone of human connection. #networking #inclusion

After years of working with communities, I'm convinced that their greatest value to companies isn't what they provide—it's what they demand. Consider a parallel from neuroscience: there’s growing research showing that people who maintain rich social connections as they age show significantly slower cognitive decline. Managing social relationships is our brain's most demanding daily task - more complex than solving equations or analyzing data. Processing social cues and group dynamics takes more sophisticated brain power than abstract reasoning. Social interactions help our brains develop resilience that isolation just can’t provide. Loneliness damages our health not just from lack of emotional support, but because our brains and bodies need the daily challenge of dealing with the unpredictable complexity of human connection. Though not a perfect comparison, those who've worked in community have seen how engaged customer/user communities can push organizations to interact, adapt, and develop capabilities beyond their initial plans. Building a “community” where customers/users interact directly with each other is a complex & difficult investment for for businesses. Managing various subgroups and their needs within an established community can be challenging, especially when passionate groups disagree with company priorities. Beyond the other benefits of investing in community, this very unpredictable complexity and passion—though it may frustrate even experienced community professionals at times—is precisely what businesses need to stay adaptive, resilient, and innovative for the long term. Just as the complex stimulus of social connection helps our brains maintain cognitive vitality, the varied demands that engaged communities place on organizations are precisely what keep them sharp, resilient, and prepared for whatever’s coming next.

A few years ago, I was told about a seemingly archetypal story of a large funder that entered a community with bluster, pouring in vast amounts of money and showing little interest in existing structures, innovations and initiatives. This churning and turning of the community ground ended up being extremely disruptive, resulting in the release of anger and angst towards the funder, pitting community members against one another in competition for resources and leaching valuable assets of time and trust. Not only was the venture a failure, you could say that it left the community poorer than before. We have to do better! Attending to and investing in #connectivity is not always the sexiest thing for funders and other would-be supporters of #socialchange efforts. It does not often address the sense of urgency, call to action, and drive for “proof of impact.” That said, not stopping to understand and appreciate a community’s dynamic organic matter – #relationships, network patterns and resource flows (often a source of great strength in resilient communities facing daunting circumstances) – can lead to irresponsible and damaging interventions. ... The invitation then is to slow down, take a closer look, observe what is already happening to support #resilience, adaptation, #innovation and #regeneration. The best course of “action” is generally to respect and work with this. As is the case with malnourished soils, there may be a call for greater intervention, and it is important to understand the implications of flooding, artificially fertilizing or busting up the community ground. https://lnkd.in/eWXsWkT

In startups, your network could be more important than your knowledge. It's a controversial position, but it's one of my strongest beliefs after years of building companies and investing in founders. In today's world, information is widely accessible. But meaningful connections? Those are still rare and valuable. Here's why your network matters more: 1. Knowledge depreciates, relationships appreciate What you know today will be outdated tomorrow. But relationships compound over time, growing in value and opportunity creation. 2. One connection can open doors no knowledge can A single introduction can change your entire trajectory. No amount of solo learning creates this type of opportunity. 3. Networks provide diverse perspectives Even the smartest person is limited by their own viewpoint. A network gives you access to multiple mental models and perspectives. 4. Specialized knowledge is accessible through networks You don't need to know everything - you need to know who knows what you need. Effective networkers can tap expertise on demand. 5. Strong networks create serendipitous opportunities The most valuable opportunities often come unexpectedly through seemingly random connections. Your network increases these chance encounters. I've seen this play out repeatedly in my own career. My most significant opportunities came through connections that no amount of solo learning could have provided. The most successful people I know aren't necessarily the smartest in the room, but they're almost always the best connected. This doesn't mean knowledge isn't important. But knowledge without connections to leverage it limits your potential impact.

The Atlantic’s recent cover story, "The Anti-Social Century," hit home for me. It starkly reminds us of how isolation is shaping our politics, mental health, and even our ability to connect with others. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning about loneliness, calling it a public health crisis as damaging as smoking. Even more concerning, is that the social fallout is most pronounced among young adults📍 One finding that I've heard before stood out: a study revealed that people often expect social interactions to be UNENJOYABLE but are pleasantly surprised when they do engage. It’s a reminder of how we sometimes underestimate the value of connection. Research also shows that there are immense benefits in maintaining "loose ties"—those casual, everyday relationships that enrich our lives in unexpected ways. The article also highlights the importance of the “middle ring”—those casual, everyday interactions that teach us how to disagree, compromise, and connect with people who are different from us. These interactions are foundational to emotional intelligence and shape where we live, work, and even vote. In Leading Below the Surface, I talk about how meaningful connection is critical to leadership, colleagueship, and well-being. But how do we rebuild these connections in an anti-social world? Here are three tips to get started: 1⃣ Assess your current level of "middle ring" engagement: Take a moment to evaluate your level of engagement with casual relationships. Are there opportunities to reconnect with acquaintances, have casual neighborhood conversations, participate in community events, or engage with colleagues beyond work tasks? 2⃣ Start small: Smile at a stranger, strike up a quick chat with a neighbor, or engage with colleagues during breaks. These small steps can spark a connection. 3⃣ Actively build your middle ring: Join a local group, participate in a community activity, or reconnect with acquaintances. These interactions build empathy and broaden perspectives. You can even start a "social diary" to track your progress. How are you fostering connection in an age of isolation? I've been in so many conversations about this lately so I'm curious what others are doing. I'll leave the link the full *gifted* article in the comments. #EmotionalIntelligence #SocialConnection #LeadershipDevelopment #LonelinessCrisis