“Tipping Point” Tips: 3 Ways to Build and Use Your Network
Getting the word out about an idea, business or person are vital skills, both for building a business and managing a job search. Malcolm Gladwell suggests focusing on three types of people to do so, in his classic “The Tipping Point”:
Connectors know more people than average. Even if you’re trying to reach one person in 100 million, it can be done with 4 introductions from people who know just 100 others. Natural connectors enjoy making and sharing connections. You can help them by being a new connection for them, comparing your mutual ones, and identifying others for them to meet.
Mavens are the experts to explore new or changing fields with. Natural mavens enjoy sharing and updating expert knowledge in their chosen area. You can help them by being an active listener, sharing relevant knowledge of yours, and referring them to mavens they may need.
Salesmen are the persuaders who move new things beyond the early adopters, into the ranks of the majority. Natural sales people have infectious energy, empathy with their audience and belief in what they promote. You can help them by sharing your good energy, empathy, understanding of their audiences, and belief in what you can contribute.
Act on what you and each of these types can offer each other, and enjoy the results!
Going Global: Time Changes can “Spring” a surprise on you
Although the US and Canada ‘spring forward’ their clocks on March 14, other countries do not.
To manage overseas time differences being one to two hours off from what you would normally expect between February 21 and April 4, we use www.timeanddate.com
To Lead is to Serve
Servant Leadership is a productive approach in corporate as well as non-profit settings, or almost any time when more than one person is working to achieve results.
To assess or refresh your team’s use of servant leadership, “use the word ‘Serve’ as an acrostic” is the advice recently heard in church.
See and explore the potential of all those you deal with
Encourage and develop those you are responsible for
Repent of and manage your selfish tendencies
Value results and relationships, as both are essential
Embody integrity. ‘Talk without the walk’ soon becomes meaningless
‘Being a servant does not mean being servile’ notes another clergyman ‘When you are of service, you will see what value you’re adding’ says the Rev’d Geoffrey Hoare, who can be reached at www.allsaintsatlanta.org
Practicing the above will make success more likely, whatever your mission or resources
Two Sides of the Coin
‘Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good action in others.’
(Plato, Greek Philosopher, 4th century BC, cited by C. Pearson et al in Bad Behavior)
‘No good deed goes unpunished.’
(Clare Boothe Luce, 20th century U.S. writer and politician, on unintended consequences)