The knowledge network,
networking people.
The business of networking people and
information together.
By Don Fitchett
The myth "We use only 10% of our brains" might not be
true, but it is safe to say most of us only use 10% of our people networking
resources. A similar phrase also holds true with the "knowledge
network" (networking people and information together), "use it - or
lose it". Since the beginning of time, man has migrated together sharing
ideas and arriving at new ideas as a result of communicating with others.
Of course the most obvious advantage of networking with your
peers and others is that they may have a solution you seek. The more you add to
your knowledge network, the better chance you have of finding your solutions and
being more successful at what you do. Later I will talk about some of the many
resources at your disposal to build your knowledge network.
The most powerful aspect about the knowledge network is often
the most overlooked advantage. That advantage is a solution that results when
two or more individuals communicating back and forth with a common goal.
The result; a solution that would not have been reached by either individual on
their own. The power to arrive at that solution and the quality of that solution
increases exponentially with each individual who joins the knowledge network!
The value of a network is
at least of the order of N-squared
That is Metcalfe's Law (Bob Metcalfe is the inventor of Ethernet), as shown
by the example below.
A network of:
- 2 people working on a common problem have 4 times the odds of reaching a
solution than each alone.
- 3 sister companies networked together are 9 times more likely to be
successful than their competitor's companies who are operating as stand
alone companies.
- 10 web sites networked together is 100 times more powerful than each one
alone.
- 4 similar organizations collaborating together will be 16 times more
useful to its members than any one individual organization. (Also each will
see increased membership proportional to the number of collaborating
organizations, squared.)
Okay, I think you get the picture, but I would like to mention just one
more point to emphasize the value of the resources available. For
instance, take the organization squared example above. One may argue it is not
sixteen times say - six hundred in each organization, but actually limited to
the number of members you have contact with. One would continue ... in a chapter
you actually may only have contact with 10 members, not all 9,600 members.
I would reply, ah ha! Now I have you thinking! In reality this may be true,
but I would like to bring you into my reality. If only two of those
organizations had internet discussion groups and only 5% of the members
participated, you could now have two groups of 30. Take another reality check
and possibly only 5 individuals from each discussion group would be willing to
participate in your discussion. Even that would be equivalent to 25 or more
people helping you find a solution.
The key to the above analysis is that two criteria
are being met ...
Individuals communicating back and forth
+ with a common goal
If you just emailed the 5 individuals in each group and each individual did
not have added value of seeing the other individual's replies, you would lose
the squared function of the analysis. The result would only be equivalent to 10
people helping you find a solution. Still much more productive than you working
on a solution by your self. The real power of networking comes when all
participants share in all the communication. That is when a solution evolves to
that which none of the individuals on their own may have ever come up with.
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Now when someone
asks you; "What is the formula for team work"? You can
reply, N-squared.
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Now a little about the people networking
resources available to us all.
In the old days, they would walk to the neighbor's farm and share a cup of
coffee while brain storming. Later around the industrial revolution, they would
also brain storm with their peers at work (when the social/political environment
would allow it.) Then trade organizations started taking root and small groups
would meet for chapter meetings. This was actually a revolution in itself as
individuals could start to benefit from sources outside their companies.
Today we have the Internet, email, and discussion boards that serve as a much
more powerful people networking resources than any one could have ever imagined
back then (well with the exception a few like Mr. Metcalfe:>). Now we
virtually have the entire world with millions of people at our doorstep to
network with. With technology evolving so quickly, we need this networking
resource to survive in a very competitive world market.
Email: Email has become not only an
accepted form of communication and networking, but a preferred method. It's
quicker than snail mail (postal), you can store all letters on your computer to
search and reference later, it saves trees and it's free! Always respond
to your email with in 24 hours, it's the norm and will increase your chances for
success. I actually prefer email to cell phones that have poor reception and
lose signals. Email makes for much better quality communication; you always hear
what the other is saying, you have and receive more organized thoughts and you
don't forget an important detail.
Discussion Boards: The
most important of people networking resources via the internet. Many
experts are available as well as your peers and they are all free! For a list of
popular industry related boards, see http://www.bin95.com/discussion_forums.htm
Please do not spam them by posting advertisements, but when you help or seek
help, be sure and leave your name or company url as a signature. You want due
recognition and it gives the other people you're communicating with, an idea of
who you are. Always set up a special email account to use with these boards
because unfortunately, the email address you use will receive spam. (Newsgroups
also fall under this category and there will be examples on the page referenced
above.)
Websites: Many overlook websites and the
search engines to find them, as networking tools. When you have a specific issue
you need to find a solution for, use google to search for it. When you
find a website specializing in the topic, you have also found an expert. Use the
website's contact form and ask for assistance. Most website owners/maintainers
will respond with in 24 hours. Most will help you out with free advice in hopes
of a future relationship.
About the Author: Don Fitchett is
President of Business Industrial
Network, a company founded on the principles mentioned in this article. (www.bin95.com)
Please feel free to copy and pass along this article as long as the credits are
included. | 
