Social-Business Networking - surviving life in between Metcalf and Dunbar

Networking is currently undergoing a buzz and prosper with Internet as its main engine. Communities, Virtual recommendations and the implosion of global distance through communication online has made the old habit of bartering and networking connected to the local village in the rural agrarian time to be transferred to a new global context.

In a world where everything is linked to everything else, what does it mean for you - your life and your place in the universe? Hierarchy as a mode of organising is dying. Chaos, conflict and confusion is for real, and while giving trust to self-organising systems in your every-day life, it is all about to see what nodes to intentionally and with serendipity connect, the hub you can form and the links you make.

At the same time there is a conflict in the rules of Metcalf and Dunbar. Metcalf rule says that the value of a network is increasing exponentially with the number of nodes. Dunbar rule says that you only can keep meaningful relations with maximum 150 people in life at the same time. How do you navigate in between rules of Metcalf and Dunbar? And could it be transferred to a meaningful organizing of your intentional route? Where do you want to go - today? What world do you want - tomorrow?

Here are some key references and a collection of resources. This one pager and hub of 'social business networking' has been on top ten on Google among 40 million of hits.

Some references of recommendations to digest further:

The New Science of Networks - Albert Laszlo Barabasi

The University of Notre Dame Homepage of the premier scientist of present breakthroughs in the "science of networks". If you really want to understand this thing called "network" and "networking" how it affects all walks of life, universe and everything, this man is a must to stop by. And read his book "Linked".

Social networks

If we move over to networks in between humans, this wikipedia entry would be your choice - from Granovetter pioneering, to Social Computing.

The Virtual Handshake - Scott Allen/David Teten

Applied into the art of closing online deals, Scott Allen together with David Teten, co-authoring the book (read further) is one of the authoroties on the business side of networking. The book is for a limited time free for download as well.

The Long Tail - Chris Anderson

When it comes to the "Small Worlds" idea, first launched by Granovetter in 1973, Chris Anderson, chief editor of Wired, delivers a "blog book" on how small networks along the "long tail" affects marketing. Book published at Hyperion just recently, following his ground-breaking and the most read ever article from Wired, 2004.

The Art of Networks!

The Gallery of Network Images - explore the rest of the images, where the Intro Image I included in this Lens is one.

And - what is a Scale-Free Network, anyways?

Scale-Free Networks

Answer given by Wikipedia Entry. And holds a central piece on the generic finding on how networks form in such diverse areas such as social networks, websites, Internet and nervous cells.

Some rules without compromise...

The Dunbar Rule - the size of 150 in your network!

"Your brain is hard wired to pay attention to about 150 people. Try to have a relationship with any more than that, and your life will turn to pure crap. Just ask the Military, Gore-Tex, or Krippendorf's tribe. They'll all tell you the same thing. One fifty is the way to go. They've known for hundreds of years that people work best in groups of 150 or less. Now it's your turn." - if you want to explore the meaning of "qualitative networking", this is the starting point!

Metcalfe's Law

The Wikipedia Entry of the "Increasing value of a network". Does this apply to your social network as well? The more connected, the more value you have? I argue, not. This applies for technology more than people. We are not fax machines or computers.

Reed's Law

Enters David P. Reed. If the network size ad infinitum argument is the one side, there is the small worlds argument and the "rule of 150" on the other. Reed, to my view, presents an intermediary of "building communities". This is related to Granovetter and "the strength of weak ties". Your "150" could be very strong, especially in the core your closest peers, but the bridge in between these small worlds and communities is the thing that creates even stronger values. Finding those mid-zise-connected with qualitative relationships I believe is a clue to make networking work for you!

The worlds to practice within

Some of the virtual places and/or VCoP's (virtual communities of practice) popular nowadays are;

• Facebook - http://www.facebook.com (social networking with business networking opportunities)
• LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/ (referral engine)
• XING - http://www.xing.com/ (social-business networking)
• Flickr - http://www.flickr.com (photo sharing)
• YouTube - http://www.youtube.com (video sharing)

A tendency found lately is interesting, that the all-too common communities of practice online watering out has created forums with greater commanlities recently. New VCoP's are focused on niches such as art, tennis, football (soccer), golf, cars, dog owners, and even cosmetic surgery, according to wikipedia.

Listed so-called "YASN's" - Yet Another Social Network

To trace all the so-called YASN's (very close to "yawn", yes!) I refer to the collection over at Wikipedia. And also - note that the whole movement of online social networks did not begin like three years ago with LinkedIn or Friendster etc. It traces back to the nowadays almost un-recognized Sixdegrees.Com, founded 1997 and lasting to 2001. (Archived sample startpage from Feb 2000 here). I was listening to a keynote speech from December 1999, that this simple idea to list your friends and their emails, and then see who-knows-who already then was used for recruiting (similar to one of the uses of LinkedIn referral engine) - so nothing is new under the sun. Although - since SixDegrees went to the Dead Links Society, the next thing with a great idea is all about Timing. And the time was obviously later than this!

Virtual Communities of Practice list, around 100 or so

Some personal exploration and end-notes - reflecting upon two dimensions

One concept that I have explored is formed along two dimensions;

Quantitative vs Qualitative (numbers vs relationship sustainability)

and

Random vs Intentional

In this context I define my approach to networking to be Qualitative Intentional - meaning I only connect to those who I find we share the same meta-intention (but not necessarily personality, skills and focus areas of our practice and activity - the more heterogenic and diversified with this aspect, the better!). And to keep a close eye not to suffer the collapse to go beyond the 150 in the currently active network, defined by Christian Mayaud as CAN in some insightful posts (here, here and here).

Look out for an editorial editorial that more extensively deals with tools, enablers and facilitators for increased efficiency and effectiveness especially if you define yourself to be an "intentional" networker. And that more clearly defines what is the difference in between random vs intentional - and the size you end up with then is the "right for you", something close to what Scott Allen refers to as "right-sizing" your network. Venture Capitalists and Recruiters make money of relations in transaction, so they are in need of a huge network. Back-office adminstrators have a lesser degree if maintaining some routine everydayness, and might more likely build up to the 150 in capacity in the social life off job and out-of-office - or?

At the end of the day - essentially all this relates to a transfer of the meta-question - "why are you here in this world?"

Networking on LinkedIn vs other platforms

One conversation related to this is the so-called LION approach vs others. LION means LinkedIn Open Networker, where you accept any connection without reservation to be added to your LinkedIn network - your trusted connections. I have found this position uncomfortable, since I am a semi-open and cautious networker, where trust is a key word. Thus, I established another acronym COLIBRI to pinpoint my approach to my LinkedIn networ:

Cause-Oriented LinkedIn Buddy-Referring Inter-net-worker

- Cause-Oriented: Implies "beyond business" - that you actually have a deeper motive with your (inter)action route

- Linked: That a connection is far beyond a contact - you have nurtured the relation and trust has built up - social network research implies that the core network takes 10 to 14 years to build up in order to last and sustain

- In: Yes - *in*, truly.

- Buddy: A friend, a collegue, an associate, a partner. Someone you actually know. Especially their needs and how you can help them. And surprise them with an "unsolicited" intro to leverage their intentions :).

- Referring: Yes, you are there to refer others that come to you for an assisted personalized introduction. Three parties, the one asking you&yourself&the one you come to think of - or the one already spotted by the one asking for an introduction. Answering "Do you know someone that could support my [XYZ] cause/motive]?" or "Can you introduce me to [XYZ] that I feel could be assisting my [XYZ] cause/motive?". When you refer someone, your own reputation is at stake, thus to be aware of who you are connected to 1st degree. LinkedIn is a "referral engine", giving this referring work steroids, and that's why it differs from other social(-business) networking sites. And that's why I am more restrictive when it comes to my 1st degree level as well!

- Inter-net-worker: Yes, we network mostly nowadays online, but inter- is also an acronym of "in between". So Inter-Networkers are the one's being aware that they are always in a system "in between" at least two other persons/phenomena etc. Everything is connected to everything else (read Linked by Barabasi for more insight on this!). And you are a part of that open system. Thus, you affect everything in this system, and what goes around comes around. In summary - Karma! Some use the notion Give to Get, but I use the notion Give to Give. You don't know when your generosity pays you back, and thus you must release your short-sighted, myopian 'self' in order to reach long-term success in your networking. In order not to be mis-used with this approach, it is even more important to identify who should be in your 1st degree closest circle of trust.

A LIFE AS A COLIBRI

I have often come to refer to myself even before this acronym as a colibri, reflecting some of the traits and behaviours, with the powers they posess. The world's smallest bird, but oh! so powerful.

• A colibri moves fast, giving agility provided by this flexibility, and can shift direction on the spot when needed

• A colibri is small so it can move where others are too big, in a world dominated by rigidities and fixed institutions and world-views

• A colibri is dedicated fully to find nectar, in an evergoing quest

• A colibri flies UP in the sense of danger and alert of threat - "the third way"

• A colibri rests deeply and efficiently when needed - going to temporary "hibernations" to deeply recover, called "torpur" - in between intense heart-beating in-the-air paths followed, you sometimes need to rest!

Colobris also come in a wide variety of sizes, colours and species (325 to 340) - pluralism in other words!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird

With this, I wrap up with a final note onthe T&C model of social-business networking in the 21st Century!

The T&C Models towards Transcend and Change

When this is cleared out - it is time to get out there and do your networking. Because Networking is a Verb. And the network created is a Garden. Nurturing, living, cross-pollination, watering. Alive and dynamic like every sub-set of connections in the biosphere, right?

For the purpose, I have some short notes on two models, that I will digest further in this hub (add RSS).

Business Model of the 21st Century:

Transparency > Trust > Transaction > Transfer > Transformation

Networking Model:

Contact > Clarity > Conversation > Collaboration > Connection

Where the final results are Transcend and Change!

Change of you, your relation, your knowledge, your insights, your ideas, your business, your mission in life, leading to a Transcend of all these dimensions of your Life and the World around you. And in the end changing the world in an endless chain of people, with six degrees of separation! Make some waves, make some seachange. Circles in the Pond - and you throw the Stone. Where are you?

This article and entry will soon be added with more references and books for further digesiton.

I hope this will be a good entry in the world of networking.

Happy networking!

And take care!

Peace,

Anders

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PS. In general - to let more people get the chance to network online, I think the intro map on top needs a significant change and revamp. Global Internet - NOW. Making the Web World Wide...

http://www.hubpages.com/hub/hotworld would be your next destination working on one of these routers above to get there. DS.