The Power of "Who"
Posted by Kevin Logterman on Thu, Aug 05, 2010 @ 11:02 AM
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With the advent of LinkedIn, Facebook and other social networking sites, more and more people are connecting and networking at a feverish pace. I’m a guilty party, building my direct contacts on LinkedIn to close to 800 people. I’ve been asking myself, lately, how much benefit can one get from connecting with 800 people and how much attention will I get from that large a group.
I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Bob Beaudine, author of The Power Of Who, a best-selling book for close to a year. Bob’s book is all about networking, but in a very different way. Bob’s book focuses on one major principle, that you already know everyone you need to know (he calls it your WHO). The idea is that your Who (your friends, family and/or workmates) all have contacts of their own. By focusing on those close to you and sharing with them your dreams and ambitions, they can help you connect the dots and achieve your dreams.
Bob is a recruiter himself, becoming one of the most well-known headhunters in sports (college coaches, athletic directors, etc…). His concept makes a lot of sense and turns the tables on the typical approach to networking. I get calls and emails every day from professionals who find themselves in the job market. When asked how they’re conducting their search, so many tell me that they’ve sent out hundreds of letters, email and calls but haven’t found anything yet. I’ve begun to ask them if they’ve talked to their brother, their neighbor, the guys they ride bike with every week and, no surprise, am told they didn’t think those people could help them.
The question to ask yourself if you or someone you know is in this situation is this, “what are the chances of someone who doesn’t know you or has ever met you, can help you versus those around you who do and know your strengths, interests and desires?”
The answer is quite clear. Pick up the book, The Power Of Who. It will change the way you think about networking.