Building Social Networks Strategies for Success. Full Lives Conference April 15, :00-4:30

Transcription

1 Building Social Networks Strategies for Success Full Lives Conference April 15, :00-4:30

2 Your Presenters Karen Heath- Project Director SBA grant Danielle Miller-Researcher Melody Lee Gleichman-Small Business Owner (Photographer) Don Roberts Small Business Owner (Community Rehabilitation Professional)

3 The Industry-Driven Support Model Project DISTANCE DELIVERED MICROENTERPRISE TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES Provide business training entrepreneurs with disabilities in two industries: Artists and crafters Service-based businesses Next session on marketing starts May 5 th! Use real-time web-based delivery system Training for each group was focused on a single topic Marketing Financial Management Offer networking sessions to encourage interaction, sharing of ideas, and networking within local community

4 What s All This About Networking? The ability to achieve our goals, fulfill our missions and make our contributions to the world depends as much on our social capital (the resources available in and through personal and business networks) as it does on our human capital (knowledge, expertise and experience).

5 Networks Lead to Resources People who build the right networks get the resources they need when they need them----entrepreneurs secure venture capital, investors find new business opportunities, job seekers locate good jobs, salespeople find new customers Wayne Baker, Achieving Success Through Social Capital

6 Resources You Can Tap Into Information, ideas, leads, business opportunities, financial capital, power and influence, emotional support, goodwill, trust, cooperation, word of mouth marketing, the ability to form alliances and the list goes on.

7 According to Studies: Social capital is important for finding and creating employment Fernandez and Weinberg (1997) found if job applicants have a referral they are twice as likely to have the opportunity to interview Additionally, by having the opportunity to interview are 3 times more likely to be offered a job The ideal network is one where job contacts will think of the job seeker when they hear of a suitable opportunity without being asked. Granovetter found that persons who got jobs via networks were often not actively seeking work at the time. BlydenPott,Disability and Employment: Considering the Importance of Social Capital, 2005

8 According to Studies: Social capital is important for entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs engaged in networks both within and outside their community have a 94% probability of start up success. Those engaged in networks just within their community have a 70% probability of success Those not engaged with networks have only a 25% probability of start up success. Vennesland, B. (2004) Social capital and networks in forest-based rural economic development

9 Reasons participants gave for importance of networking Networking is important because You can share what you ve leaned and learn from others share knowledge Everyone offers something unique and different Gives you new ideas and new direction You can encourage and support one another Can get your product and information about your business out there in the community and online word of mouth Can find out who has similar products and what their prices are Can find resources, such as a web designer

10 Examine Your Own Network When studying their networks, most people find their networks are smaller and more internally focused than they imagined. Most conclude they should enlarge and diversify their networks.

11 Let s Map Our Own Networks Question 1: Discuss Important Matters Question 2: Work-related communication Question 3: Project Support Question 4: Socialize informally Describe the people in your network

12 Places to Network Affiliations are various types of groups, associations, or organizations which you are actively involved with. Affiliations can be great places to network. Professional association Trade or industry association Political party Church or religious organization Charitable or philanthropic organization Sports club or recreational organization Art, music, or cultural organization Alumni or school related group Self-help or personal development group

13 Draw your network map Visualizing your networks helps you understand them. For each network map: Put your name in the center Write the names of the people you listed around your circle Draw a line between you and each person (alter) Draw a line between two people if they know each other personally

14 Network Density Complete the density table on page 5: List the number of Alters and number of relationships Use the table to determine maximum possible relationships Calculate density, redundancy,and effect size Density: Numerically defines the connections among connections and defines networks as opened or closed. Redundancy: Relates to network reach, high redundancy means your networks and the networks of your alters coincide or overlap and therefore your network has less reach. Effect Size: Is the size of your network after accounting for redundancy. Redundancy reduces effect size.

15 Composition& Focus of your networks Are most people in your network like you or different from you? Are your networks more concentrated in work? Family? Social life? Complete pages 6 and 7 of the network worksheet: Refer to the table on page 2 of the network worksheet List the number of people in each category and calculate the percentage

16 What Does My Network Map Tell Me?

17 Closed vs. Open Networks Closed Networks Open Networks More connections among the people you listed Fewer connections among the people you listed See page 4 of your map See page 4 of your map Look at page 5 of your Network Map. Densities closer to 100% are more closed. Look at page 5 of your Network Map. Densities closer to 0% are more open Density = 90% Redundancy = 3.6 Effect size = 1.4 Density = 30% Redundancy = 1.2 Effect size = 3.8 Baker, W. (2000). Achieving Success Through Social Capital. Danvers, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

18 Looking at Your Network Closed Network Open Network Fewer opportunities to meet other people Gives you more opportunities to meet other people Good for promoting group identity, trust and cooperation Good for building consensus and providing support Good for bridging gaps Good for getting new information and accessing resources

19 What is your goal? Closed Network Open Network I want to build a close-knit team with a common mission (p. 61, Baker) I want to get more information and discover new opportunities. (p. 61 Baker). I desire trust, cooperation and support I want to influence other people and have access to more opportunities and resources

20 Job Contact Networks Blyden Potts (2005) lists specific characteristics that make networks more effective at finding employment: 1. Being larger 2. Having contacts who are well-connected 3. Having low redundancy 4. Having high proportion of weak ties 5. Including employers in desired places of employment 6. Having a network that will think of you when a job opportunity presents itself, and possibly 7. Having prestigious contacts

21 How do you use your network currently?

22 Building Your Network What are some ways you can build your network?

23 Focus on the small wins Network smarter not harder Diversify your networks. If everyone is like you, find ways to interact with people who are not like you. See page 2 and 6 of your map Externalize your focus to be with new and diverse groups

24 Strategies for building your network Give, Give, Give Give your time, give your talents, offer your services Do this without expecting anything in return (not sales, not contacts, not anything)

25 What do you have to give? Alaska ranked 5 th among all states in for volunteer rate (37.3%) and 2 nd for volunteer hours per capita (59.2hrs).

26 Where and how can you give? Within preexisting programs, organizations Build your own program or organization What are some ideas? What are some ideas?

27 Using your new networks Focus on generalized reciprocity. Enjoy getting to know new people without thinking what can they give me Don t focus on tit for tat (if I give you something, you will give me something in return)

28 Strategies for expanding into others networks

29 Friend Map

30 Suggestions for Counselors Counselors want to help consumers build larger networks, but in a smart way, not just haphazardly. BlydenPott, 2005 Minimize the number of redundant contacts Grow the portion of weak ties to increase diversity and network reach Expand networks into multiple contexts (e.g., family, work, social) Develop good connections with potential employers in industries of interest Avoid over-designing or building artificial relationships Participate in clubs and various affiliations Volunteer Job shadow and internships Consult with a social network mentor

31 Contact Information Karen Heath Center for Human Development P: (907) E: Danielle Miller Center for Human Development P: (907) E: Jackie Stewart Catalyst Business Consulting P: (907) E: Melody Lee Gleichman GraceWorks PhotoArt Graceworksphotoart.com E: Don Roberts AK Endeavors E:

32 Thank You for Attending! Funded in part through a grant award with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.