Networking has existed in commercial and personal terms forever.
Over the centuries, patronage and favouritism has worked well. Also, the more negative levers such as nepotism, bribery, blackmail and aspects of personal persuasion have secured commercial and personal advantage.
No doubt all of these still go on to some extent, but the more straightforward techniques of making progress commercially and personally – commonly known as Networking – probably came into commercial focus and recognition about 30 years ago. The primary drivers reflected a maturing economy in which supply was beginning to exceed demand and traditional routes to market were beginning to be seen as too slow and ineffective.
In the middle of this were people – people looking to sell their company’s goods or services and, also, to advance their own earnings and careers. Developing communication technologies including social media were beginning to play a material role in this process. You could do it faster and do more of it.
All of this reflected the key principle that, in the end, people buy from people and face to face contacts are vital. The major part of the effort was about engineering these face to face meetings and with the right people. Social media supports this; not replaces it.
Our modern world is full of literature and digital material and experts on Networking – virtually all of which is good stuff. You can find it everywhere. There is only so much that can be said and written -and, after a while, it can become repetitive and tiresome. But, you should spend some time here.
The two objectives of networking are to meet people who can introduce work to you directly or indirectly and, secondly, to acquire information – not so much technical/ professional/ training-type information – but being information about people, markets, opportunities, ideas, insights, ways of thinking, trends, changes and views – many that differ from your own – with or without evidential material. Mostly, it is about expanding your judgemental base.
We submit that Devonshire House can do well for you in this latter regard.
Devonshire House is not a recruitment or an “outplacement” company – we are Director-level professionals in leadership roles who have an instinctive focus on the human side of enterprise. We are hungry for knowledge; for ideas; for insights; for clues about the future and to meet new people.
Why don’t you talk with us about joining us at Devonshire House?
PS: Don’t forget, you can let us have your comments – any comments relevant to what we are doing at Devonshire House – and which we might publish here for the benefit of others – using the following form. Our plan is to publish relevant comments with attributions which will be posted below…