Do you let your networks of people overlap? You should.
In most of our lives there are three unique networks of people.
Your Friends and Family is one such network. These are the people who are generally the closest to you. These people are the people who hopefully trust, respect and care for you the most.
Your Community Connections is the second network of people in your life. These are people in the schools, charities, civic groups and churches you attend or visit. Your neighbors can be members of this network as well.
Your Business Connections is the third unique and important network of people. This includes your fellow employees, business partners and customers. Your mechanic, plumber and hairstylist could be members of this network.
Individually these networks can help in your life, community, career and business. When you let these networks organically overlap, the benefits become far more rewarding.
I regularly hear people say, “I won’t mix business and pleasure,” or “I keep my personal and business lives completely separate.”
It took me many years to overcome this silo philosophy. Today I purposefully let these networks overlap as much as they can. The benefits to me and the people in my networks has been significant.
Here are some examples of how your networks could start to overlap:
- You are talking with a friend and they ask you to tell them more about your business and an interest develops. If your business has something they need, a friend just became a potential client.
- You are working with a business connection and you discover that both of you are headed off to the same football game, so you decide to do dinner together first. A business connection just touched his toe into your friend network.
- You are working with one of your fellow committee or board members at a non-profit and find out that your businesses are relevant and you agree to do coffee one day to talk about your businesses. A community connection may be headed into your business network.
Letting your networks organically overlap only means that you don’t place restrictions on your connections. If they want to become friends, consider it. If a friend may benefit from your business, open the door for the conversation to occur. If someone in your church or civic group is interesting and fun to be around, consider letting them into your friend network.
Overlapping networks create far more ideas for life, career, business and community. I have personally benefited from the friendships I’ve made with my clients. I’ve also helped my business connections start community groups and then become personal friends with them. Additionally I have friends and family who have gotten to know my business and become clients. All of this happens when you let your networks overlap.
Placing barriers around your Friends/Family, Community and Business networks so that they can’t overlap can limit the possibilities, ideas and career/business opportunities that could occur if you allow your networks to overlap where relevant and possible.
Have you lifted your networking restrictions?
If you want to learn more Networking Skills read my book Networking for Mutual Benefit.
If you need coaching on LinkedIn so that you can manage your networks better, consider my LinkedIn Coaching Program.