7 Ways to Diversify Your Network

Content

Diversity is its own reward. Moving into new worlds is sure to be interesting, but Ron Burt, a professor at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, says you can expect even more good things. Burt researches the benefits of networking.

Diversity is its own reward. Moving into new worlds is sure to be interesting, but Ron Burt, a professor at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, says you can expect even more good things. Burt researches the benefits of networking.  

Content

Here are a few of the advantages that accrue to the well-connected.

Here are a few of the advantages that accrue to the well-connected.  

• Content

  They have a hand in and exercise control over more rewarding opportunities.

  They have a hand in and exercise control over more rewarding opportunities.

• Content

  They are paid better and promoted faster.

  They are paid better and promoted faster.

• Content

  They move information faster and to more people.

  They move information faster and to more people.

• Content

  They use less time and energy to get good results.

  They use less time and energy to get good results.

• Content

  They can tailor solutions instead of relying on one-size-fits-all answers to challenges.

  They can tailor solutions instead of relying on one-size-fits-all answers to challenges. 

Content

Use these strategies to diversify your network:

Use these strategies to diversify your network:  

1. Content

   Allow serendipity. Challenge yourself to link with someone completely outside your usual milieu.

   Allow serendipity. Challenge yourself to link with someone completely outside your usual milieu.

2. Content

   Give yourself time with someone. Call a member of your professional association and plan to travel to the next event together – share a cab, ride the Metro, walk a few blocks. Again, each of you should bring something to share.

   Give yourself time with someone. Call a member of your professional association and plan to travel to the next event together – share a cab, ride the Metro, walk a few blocks. Again, each of you should bring something to share.

3. Content

   Get a fast idea. Go to FastCompany.com . Past issues of the magazine are archived. Use a key word to get to a topic or organization you have never before delved into.

   Get a fast idea. Go to FastCompany.com. Past issues of the magazine are archived. Use a key word to get to a topic or organization you have never before delved into.

4. Content

   Set up a lunch bunch. Call three other people for lunch. At lunch, give each person 15 minutes to tell something interesting or innovative about his or her organization or life.

   Set up a lunch bunch. Call three other people for lunch. At lunch, give each person 15 minutes to tell something interesting or innovative about his or her organization or life.

5. Content

   Sit with a new person. Call someone you don‘t know well and invite that person to sit with you at an upcoming event.

   Sit with a new person. Call someone you don‘t know well and invite that person to sit with you at an upcoming event.

6. Content

   Step out. Look in today’s newspaper for information about a meeting of a group you’ve never gone to.

   Step out. Look in today’s newspaper for information about a meeting of a group you’ve never gone to.

7. Content

   Talk about something new. Get with a long-time networking contact and interview that person to find some topic you’ve never discussed before.

   Talk about something new. Get with a long-time networking contact and interview that person to find some topic you’ve never discussed before.