Category 13 · 10 frameworks
Networking & Relationships
Approaches for building a network of genuine relationships that leads to information, help and opportunities.
01
Strength of Weak Ties
Mark Granovetter (1973) Acquaintances often bring more new information and opportunities than close friends, because they move in different circles. 02Structural Holes
Ronald S. Burt, Structural Holes (1992) Advantage comes from bridging gaps between groups that are not otherwise connected, because you see and can combine information others cannot. 03Give and Take
Adam Grant, Give and Take (2013) Grant describes givers, takers and matchers. Givers can be the most successful when they help generously but protect their time and avoid being exploited. 04Five-Minute Favour
Adam Rifkin; featured in Adam Grant's Give and Take Do small favours, taking five minutes or less, for people in your network, with no expectation of return. 05Never Eat Alone
Keith Ferrazzi with Tahl Raz, Never Eat Alone (2005) Treat relationship-building as an ongoing practice built on generosity and staying in touch, not something you do only when you need something. 06Informational Interview
No single originator; popularised by Richard N. Bolles, What Color Is Your Parachute? A short conversation with someone in a role, field or organisation you want to learn about, to gather insight rather than ask for a job. 07Dunbar's Number
Robin Dunbar Humans can maintain only a limited number of meaningful relationships, around 150, arranged in layers of increasing closeness. 08Dormant Ties
Daniel Levin, Jorge Walter & J. Keith Murnighan (2011) Reconnecting with people you have lost touch with can be unusually valuable: there is existing trust, and they have gathered new knowledge since you last spoke. 09Emotional Bank Account
Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) Trust in a relationship rises with deposits such as keeping promises and showing respect, and falls with withdrawals such as broken commitments. 10Operational, Personal and Strategic Networks
Herminia Ibarra & Mark Hunter, 'How Leaders Create and Use Networks', Harvard Business Review (2007) Three kinds of network: operational (getting today's work done), personal (development and outside perspective) and strategic (future priorities and stakeholders).Not sure where to start?
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