Do Analog Networking Theories Still Apply? Building Blocks Learned From Parents

Parents are often the best teachers of good networking skills. They are the ones demonstrating great patience and perseverance, ultimately practicing what they preach "Making the effort now brings a payoff later, and the rewards are worth waiting for." Here is what most of our parents told us, as often as necessary, until the lessons took hold:

"You have to learn to share"
No one is born willing to share. But eventually we learn to share, first sharing our parents time and then our toys and then our money.  Eventually we come to realize a truism of human nature: when you share with others, others want to share with you, too.

In business, the focus is often on getting ahead, achieving our own goals, advancing our own careers. When we have learned to share we recognize that our greatest achievements are reached when our resources are pooled. Stephen Covey summarizes this concept as the sixth habit of Highly Successful People: Synergize. He writes "the sum is greater than the parts" and "moving from independence to interdependence helps take us to the highest level of leadership."

I suggest that learning to share in the business community through ideas or referrals builds trust, loyalty, and camaraderie between individuals. What better way to establish your reputation than as an individual who is always looking to help other?

"Don't forget to say thank you."
Often considered the downside of the childhood ritual of receiving birthday presents, is the expectation of writing thank you notes. Parents stress the importance of this obligation and as an employee I have recognized the benefit of building strong business relationships.

Networking professional Sandy Donovan, shares that she often looks for reasons to send people notes. She writes more than just thank you notes, but often sends along articles or of personal interest to the recipient. She recommends doing this with all in your network-- business associates, clients, friends, contacts or colleagues. It shows them that you are thinking of them.

"You made a promise, now keep your word."
Parents always stress the importance of keeping a commitment. A good definition of commitment is doing the think that you said you'd do long after the mood you said it in has left you. Doing the things we don't want to do, but promised to do, "gradually brings to light the better angels in our nature" Abraham Lincoln has been quoted to say. These angels will most likely be the ones that bring us success.

How can we be great networks without cultivating great relationships? How can we build positive relationships without trust? And who will trust us if we don't do what we say we'll do?

I speculate that what will set us apart from our competition is how well we have learned and adopted the building blocks of networking our parents taught us.