The Strength of Weak Ties

My cousin, John Sullivan, wrote this piece and thought it would help folks find inspiration for networking in the new year. John is a writer, project manager and avid networker living in Dayton, Ohio. Even if you have landed a job, it is important to keep networking and meeting new people. Kudos to John for passing along some inspiration!

While it’s true that “who you know” is helpful in getting a job, “who you don’t know so well” could be more helpful. Surveys continue to show most job openings are filled by referral. But that referral is likely to come from someone you don’t know so well – like someone you might meet at Anytime Happy Hours (AHH). If you want proof, I have it.

In 1973, Mark Granovetter, then a professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, published "The Strength of Weak Ties" in the American Journal of Sociology. His study of a random sample of job changers in a Boston suburb found that 56% got their job through a personal contact. But his key finding was this: 84% of that group got their job through a contact they saw "occasionally" or "rarely." This confirms the need to seek job-hunting assistance from people other than your closest contacts, the “weak ties.” This is because you and your closest contacts share many of the same people in your respective networks. Focusing on those you know best when job hunting or seeking new clients has a lower chance of success. You need to meet people with different networks and AHH is the place for that to happen.

Translating these academic findings into action is simple. Here are three things you can do in 2010 to network more effectively and make AHH and “weak ties” work for you:

1. Invite a Former Colleague to AHH

Former co-workers now employed elsewhere are valuable contacts that get neglected instead of nurtured. Get back in touch with one via AHH. Old associates are likely to seek former colleagues to fill job openings and they can provide you better information on the company, its culture and what it’s really like to work there. “You can get higher quality information this way,” says Dr. Granovetter.

2. Cultivate a New Relationship through AHH

Odds are you’ll meet a “weak tie” at AHH. You two may know someone in common, may have attended the same college, or belong to the same gym. That’s enough. Invite a new AHH contact to lunch and make your relationship more than an acquaintance. Casual occasions like AHH offer an easy way to maintain contact. “Weak ties are efficient in terms of time,” says Dr. Granovetter. “They take a minimum of maintenance.”

3. Respond to a Follow-Up Contact from an AHH person

Remember that you are also someone else’s “weak tie.” When someone from AHH reaches out to you, respond. Return that phone call, accept that lunch invitation or make that requested introduction. It won’t take long and could pay some big future dividends to you or someone in your network.

Stay High-Touch via AHH

Despite Wi-Fi, the Internet and social websites, networking remains a personal activity, not a virtual one. No matter what “success” is for you – getting a job, getting a better job or getting more clients – Dr. Granovetter’s findings verify the importance of personal contact through forums like AHH. “People don’t forget each other,” says Dr. Granovetter, “and that’s what makes it hard to predict who will be able to help you.”

Planning for the New Year

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of 2009. I was driving home from the gym earlier today and tuned into the 90's station on my satellite radio. I cannot believe that we celebrated the turn of the century ten years ago! Time sure does fly. I remember meeting my husband, than boyfriend, in Chicago ten years ago to celebrate the millennium. He was living in Aspen and I was living in Cincinnati. We met for the weekend in Chicago and stayed at a friend's house. I remember attending a party near Wrigley Field and dancing to Prince's Song "1999" and wandering what would the future bring?

One of my favorite quotes is by Einstein, "The rate of change will never be slower than it is today." We live in a fast-paced world where information can be sent and received from across the world in a matter of seconds. We can surf the Web from our Blackberries and IPhone and retrieve instant access to recipes, tutoring, directions, music, sports, dating and art right from a small mobile device that never leaves our side. Information has become a basic commodity, and we can gain access on almost any subject in seconds.

There is an old saying that information is power. Is that statement still true today? My belief is that networking is power. Getting connected to interesting people, sharing ideas and leveraging technology to increase connectivity leads to strength and innovation. What are your networking goals for 2010? How can you grow your network and connections? How can you make 2010 meaningful for your personal and professional growth?

Anytime Happy Hours Six Month Reflection

It is hard to believe that it has been over six months since Traci and I started Anytime Happy Hours. We created this venture to bring people together in a casual setting to help create business opportunities for job seekers, employers and people interested in advancing their careers. It has been a blast and we have met so many great people!



I am in the process of working on the plans for next year, and thought it would be good to share a few highlights from the past few months. One of our networkers spent some time with my Dad at our first event at G. Baileys. My Dad has the gift of gab and over thirty years of experience calling on retailers. If you want to get him going ask him about meeting Sam Walton, Martha Stewart and the leadership team at Disney Consumer Products. My Dad spent some time with a gentleman named Brian who was interviewing at Toys R Us. Dad and Brian spent some time talking about the Toys R Us culture, and how Brian could make a difference for the retailer. Brian went to New Jersey and ended up landing the job!



The events have also led to some budding new business ideas. One of our networkers started Go To Gal and has a growing business, planning events and helping busy people get their lives in order. She has been especially busy during the holiday season! Another networker is incubating an innovative new business idea that will revolutionize the way content is shared for the home health care business.



The point is all of the ideas and connections developed through networking. It needs to become a way of life for us all. People do business with people they trust. There are so many networks growing online, and it is hard to keep up with our growing contact lists. Anytime Happy Hours provides a casual setting to meet up with new and old friends. I hope you will join us in the New Year!



What are your networking goals for 2010? How are you going to make this the best year for your career?