Social support can even help you live longer.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
The Clear Benefits of an Open Network<\/strong><\/h2>\nIn The Blue Zones<\/strong><\/em>, author Dan Beuttner shared lessons from the lifestyles of some of the world\u2019s longest-living people. His research suggests there\u2019s a strong link between social connectedness and longevity<\/p>\nBeuttner said that people who regularly visit with friends or family live longer than lonely people. But the type of social connection doesn\u2019t matter so much for longevity, just as long as you do have a supportive community.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the structure of your network certainly does matter if your goal is to create a stronger career and a more interesting life.<\/p>\n
In fact, scientists who study patterns of human connection say that an “open,” varied network is a key predictor<\/em> of career success.<\/p>\nMost people have networks that are “closed,” meaning that they usually hang out with the same old gang. If most of the people you know share an industry, religion or political party, the chances are that your network is closed.<\/p>\n
With a closed network, you tend to bump into people with similar backgrounds, educations and interests. And chances are that your perception of the broader economy could be fairly narrow.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s comfort in your closed network, and if it\u2019s big enough it will help you get things done. But you miss countless opportunities to expand your knowledge, spot emerging trends, escape the dangers of groupthink and find opportunities you never expected.<\/p>\n
Sometimes it\u2019s uncomfortable to live with an open network because people with different backgrounds don\u2019t always get along. But there are also huge advantages.<\/p>\n
By building a more expansive network, you\u2019ll be able to tap into far more circles, whether you\u2019re looking for a job or searching for new ideas.<\/p>\n
An open network can help you understand evolving trends, connect with more professional communities and build a clearer view of the big picture. And as you grow more comfortable with your far-reaching web of connection, you may also become more innovative and creative.<\/p>\n
How to Move Past These 4 Excuses for Not<\/em> Broadening Your Network<\/strong><\/h2>\nMaybe you\u2019ve been working hard to attend more professional events and add connections to your LinkedIn account. And here I come along telling you that your success to date is good, but it might not be quite enough.<\/p>\n
But please hear me out!<\/p>\n
All the work you\u2019ve done so far has helped you meet people, practice networking and build your social skills.<\/p>\n
So now it may be a good time for you to use those networking skills in a wider variety of situations.<\/p>\n
The benefits of a more varied network could be tremendous!<\/p>\n
I can imagine some of your excuses for not venturing further out because they\u2019ve popped into my head, as well. So here are four common excuses, plus tips on why and how to reject them.<\/p>\n
Excuse #1: I\u2019m not comfortable with people who are different. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt is daunting to step out beyond your tribe. And that\u2019s normal.<\/p>\n
“Homophily” is the term used to describe the tendency for humans to link up with each other in ways that confirm our core beliefs and world views. It\u2019s a sociologist\u2019s fancy way of saying that “birds of a feather flock together.”<\/p>\n
To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nBut there\u2019s no need to do anything drastic. As with any project, you can start opening up your network with a series of tiny steps:<\/p>\n
\n- Begin by articulating your intent to engage with a more diverse collection of people. And remind yourself of that intent any time you\u2019re out and about.<\/li>\n
- Each time you\u2019re at a gathering, look around for someone who seems different from your normal crowd. Then go over to that person.<\/li>\n
- To make it more likely that you\u2019ll encounter a wider mix of people, vary your routine and attend events that are outside your norm.<\/li>\n
- Try taking a class. Or join a group based on an interest not related to your work, like your favorite sport, your neighborhood, or a worthy cause that\u2019s not associated with politics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are painless ways to expand your network.<\/p>\n
Excuse #2: But it\u2019s scary to go to places where I don\u2019t know anyone.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nIt\u2019s tough to be alone in a crowd. And it\u2019s even more difficult to walk up to someone who hasn\u2019t expressed an interest in meeting you.<\/p>\n
One reason we\u2019re uncomfortable approaching folks we don\u2019t know is that we are, in fact, social animals.<\/p>\n
Our ancestors survived through the ages by cooperating with other humans, and along the way they became biologically wired with a yearning to belong. And now that need for belonging is often accompanied by a fear of rejection.<\/p>\n
To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nDon\u2019t give up. In reality, our in-bred fear of social rejection is often much worse than the actual experience of being casually rejected at a social event.<\/p>\n
I understand that worrying about being intrusive or unwelcome can feel excruciating. But from long experience, I can report that if you\u2019re actually snubbed at a party, it might hurt less than you expect.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t actually lose much when other people don\u2019t choose to talk with you. They don\u2019t know you, maybe they\u2019re anxious or busy, and typically a rude encounter is more about them than about you.<\/p>\n
People who become adept at “working a room” know that it\u2019s a numbers game. You don\u2019t need to be welcomed by everyone. As with sales, the process of forging new connections may require more than one try.<\/p>\n
The more events you attend, and the more you practice the skill of introducing yourself, the easier it gets to move on from encounters that don\u2019t produce a good fit.<\/p>\n
Excuse #3: I want to do something more meaningful than hang out at events. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nSometimes it feels frivolous to party when there are so many problems in the world.<\/p>\n
And we all need to do our bit to help.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s some good networking news: one of the best ways you can build connections is by volunteering for something that matters.<\/p>\n
To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nA massive 2019 study in Britain by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations suggests that people who volunteer find new friends and have fun:<\/p>\n
\n- Almost 90% of volunteers said they met new people.<\/li>\n
- About 76% of people 34 and younger said volunteering helped them feel less isolated.<\/li>\n
- More than three-fourths of the volunteers reported improved mental health and well-being.<\/li>\n
- Most volunteers cited benefits that matched their initial reasons for volunteering, like meeting people. And they also reported additional benefits, like enjoying the experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many other studies suggest that volunteering can help you make new friends and create more meaning in your life.<\/p>\n
An excellent way to expand your circle is to volunteer with a nonprofit group, then gradually work your way to membership on a committee or board. Working with people outside your normal professional or friends circle is a terrific way to become part of a different kind of community.<\/p>\n
More:<\/strong> 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Network Alive<\/a><\/p>\nExcuse #4: I can\u2019t bring myself to party when I\u2019m feeling down. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nWhen things aren\u2019t going well, or you just have no energy, it\u2019s tempting to stay at home and curl up alone.<\/p>\n
But being with other people, particularly happy people, may be exactly what you need.<\/p>\n
In their book Connected<\/strong><\/em>, professors Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler explain that emotions are contagious.<\/p>\nAnd they say you can “catch” the emotional states that you observe in other people, maybe in a few weeks, or maybe in just a few seconds.<\/p>\n
Emotions spread through human interaction because “we are biologically hardwired to mimic others outwardly, and in mimicking their outward displays, we come to adopt their inward states.”<\/p>\n
To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nGiven the contagious nature of emotions, one of the best ways you can become more upbeat is by spending time with cheerful people.<\/p>\n
According to Christakis and Fowler, “having happy friends and relatives appears to be a more effective predictor of happiness than earning more money.”<\/p>\n
One option is to consider where happy people might gather, whether it is a bar, a church, or a ball game. And go there.<\/p>\n
A simpler approach is to stick to your regular patterns but, everywhere you go, look around for people who seem to be optimistic. Once you spot sunny, positive people. find ways to stay in their company.<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n
Networking isn\u2019t only about racking up a long list of connections within your professional field. Effective networking means talking with folks wherever you go, learning from a wider range of people, finding more ways to connect, and nurturing a variety of relationships. As your network becomes more open, you\u2019ll find new friends, ideas, and opportunities.<\/p>\n
More About Job Search Networking:<\/h3>\n\n- How to Nurture Your Network and Empower Your Career<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7 Reasons Networking Is Critical<\/em> to Your Career Success<\/a><\/li>\n
- 7 Strategies for\u00a0Painlessly<\/em>\u00a0Building Your Network<\/a><\/li>\n
- The 4 Essential Skills for Networking Success<\/a><\/li>\n
- What Network? I Don’t Have a Network<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10 Success Tips for Reluctant Networkers<\/a><\/li>\n
- 10 Networking No-No’s<\/a><\/li>\n
- Networking Lunch Rules<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Make Employee Referral Programs Work for You<\/a><\/li>\n
- Questions to Ask in Informational Interviews<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"Beverly](\"https:\/\/job-hunt.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/BeverlyEJones200a-6.jpg\")
About the author…<\/strong><\/p>\nBeverly E. Jones is a Job-Hunt Networking Contributor. Bev is an executive coach, and a former lawyer and corporate executive. In addition, she is an active writer and speaker, and the author of \u201cThink Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.\u201d<\/em> Her career podcast, \u201cJazzed About Work<\/a>,\u201d appears on NPR.org. Visit her website, Clearways Consulting<\/a>, and Find Bev on LinkedIn<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>.
\nMore about this author<\/a>…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Beverly E. Jones rebuts our standard excuses for not networking and helps us expand our network to include people who aren’t exactly like us — a stronger, more effective network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":21421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-search-networking","category-information-interviews"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Elly Stauffer","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4788"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26732,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788\/revisions\/26732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Beuttner said that people who regularly visit with friends or family live longer than lonely people. But the type of social connection doesn\u2019t matter so much for longevity, just as long as you do have a supportive community.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the structure of your network certainly does matter if your goal is to create a stronger career and a more interesting life.<\/p>\n
In fact, scientists who study patterns of human connection say that an “open,” varied network is a key predictor<\/em> of career success.<\/p>\n Most people have networks that are “closed,” meaning that they usually hang out with the same old gang. If most of the people you know share an industry, religion or political party, the chances are that your network is closed.<\/p>\n With a closed network, you tend to bump into people with similar backgrounds, educations and interests. And chances are that your perception of the broader economy could be fairly narrow.<\/p>\n There\u2019s comfort in your closed network, and if it\u2019s big enough it will help you get things done. But you miss countless opportunities to expand your knowledge, spot emerging trends, escape the dangers of groupthink and find opportunities you never expected.<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s uncomfortable to live with an open network because people with different backgrounds don\u2019t always get along. But there are also huge advantages.<\/p>\n By building a more expansive network, you\u2019ll be able to tap into far more circles, whether you\u2019re looking for a job or searching for new ideas.<\/p>\n An open network can help you understand evolving trends, connect with more professional communities and build a clearer view of the big picture. And as you grow more comfortable with your far-reaching web of connection, you may also become more innovative and creative.<\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019ve been working hard to attend more professional events and add connections to your LinkedIn account. And here I come along telling you that your success to date is good, but it might not be quite enough.<\/p>\n But please hear me out!<\/p>\n All the work you\u2019ve done so far has helped you meet people, practice networking and build your social skills.<\/p>\n So now it may be a good time for you to use those networking skills in a wider variety of situations.<\/p>\n The benefits of a more varied network could be tremendous!<\/p>\n I can imagine some of your excuses for not venturing further out because they\u2019ve popped into my head, as well. So here are four common excuses, plus tips on why and how to reject them.<\/p>\n It is daunting to step out beyond your tribe. And that\u2019s normal.<\/p>\n “Homophily” is the term used to describe the tendency for humans to link up with each other in ways that confirm our core beliefs and world views. It\u2019s a sociologist\u2019s fancy way of saying that “birds of a feather flock together.”<\/p>\n To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n But there\u2019s no need to do anything drastic. As with any project, you can start opening up your network with a series of tiny steps:<\/p>\n These are painless ways to expand your network.<\/p>\n It\u2019s tough to be alone in a crowd. And it\u2019s even more difficult to walk up to someone who hasn\u2019t expressed an interest in meeting you.<\/p>\n One reason we\u2019re uncomfortable approaching folks we don\u2019t know is that we are, in fact, social animals.<\/p>\n Our ancestors survived through the ages by cooperating with other humans, and along the way they became biologically wired with a yearning to belong. And now that need for belonging is often accompanied by a fear of rejection.<\/p>\n To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t give up. In reality, our in-bred fear of social rejection is often much worse than the actual experience of being casually rejected at a social event.<\/p>\n I understand that worrying about being intrusive or unwelcome can feel excruciating. But from long experience, I can report that if you\u2019re actually snubbed at a party, it might hurt less than you expect.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t actually lose much when other people don\u2019t choose to talk with you. They don\u2019t know you, maybe they\u2019re anxious or busy, and typically a rude encounter is more about them than about you.<\/p>\n People who become adept at “working a room” know that it\u2019s a numbers game. You don\u2019t need to be welcomed by everyone. As with sales, the process of forging new connections may require more than one try.<\/p>\n The more events you attend, and the more you practice the skill of introducing yourself, the easier it gets to move on from encounters that don\u2019t produce a good fit.<\/p>\n Sometimes it feels frivolous to party when there are so many problems in the world.<\/p>\n And we all need to do our bit to help.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s some good networking news: one of the best ways you can build connections is by volunteering for something that matters.<\/p>\n To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A massive 2019 study in Britain by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations suggests that people who volunteer find new friends and have fun:<\/p>\n Many other studies suggest that volunteering can help you make new friends and create more meaning in your life.<\/p>\n An excellent way to expand your circle is to volunteer with a nonprofit group, then gradually work your way to membership on a committee or board. Working with people outside your normal professional or friends circle is a terrific way to become part of a different kind of community.<\/p>\n More:<\/strong> 6 Simple Ways to Keep Your Network Alive<\/a><\/p>\n When things aren\u2019t going well, or you just have no energy, it\u2019s tempting to stay at home and curl up alone.<\/p>\n But being with other people, particularly happy people, may be exactly what you need.<\/p>\n In their book Connected<\/strong><\/em>, professors Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler explain that emotions are contagious.<\/p>\n And they say you can “catch” the emotional states that you observe in other people, maybe in a few weeks, or maybe in just a few seconds.<\/p>\n Emotions spread through human interaction because “we are biologically hardwired to mimic others outwardly, and in mimicking their outward displays, we come to adopt their inward states.”<\/p>\n To Move Forward:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Given the contagious nature of emotions, one of the best ways you can become more upbeat is by spending time with cheerful people.<\/p>\n According to Christakis and Fowler, “having happy friends and relatives appears to be a more effective predictor of happiness than earning more money.”<\/p>\n One option is to consider where happy people might gather, whether it is a bar, a church, or a ball game. And go there.<\/p>\n A simpler approach is to stick to your regular patterns but, everywhere you go, look around for people who seem to be optimistic. Once you spot sunny, positive people. find ways to stay in their company.<\/p>\n Networking isn\u2019t only about racking up a long list of connections within your professional field. Effective networking means talking with folks wherever you go, learning from a wider range of people, finding more ways to connect, and nurturing a variety of relationships. As your network becomes more open, you\u2019ll find new friends, ideas, and opportunities.<\/p>\n Beverly E. Jones is a Job-Hunt Networking Contributor. Bev is an executive coach, and a former lawyer and corporate executive. In addition, she is an active writer and speaker, and the author of \u201cThink Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO.\u201d<\/em> Her career podcast, \u201cJazzed About Work<\/a>,\u201d appears on NPR.org. Visit her website, Clearways Consulting<\/a>, and Find Bev on LinkedIn<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Facebook<\/a>. Beverly E. Jones rebuts our standard excuses for not networking and helps us expand our network to include people who aren’t exactly like us — a stronger, more effective network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":21421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-search-networking","category-information-interviews"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Elly Stauffer","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4788"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26732,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4788\/revisions\/26732"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How to Move Past These 4 Excuses for Not<\/em> Broadening Your Network<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Excuse #1: I\u2019m not comfortable with people who are different. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Excuse #2: But it\u2019s scary to go to places where I don\u2019t know anyone.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Excuse #3: I want to do something more meaningful than hang out at events. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Excuse #4: I can\u2019t bring myself to party when I\u2019m feeling down. \u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The Bottom Line:<\/h3>\n
More About Job Search Networking:<\/h3>\n
\n
\nAbout the author…<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nMore about this author<\/a>…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"