Ideas & innovation from networking

Networking generates new ideas

When Marci Kinter, Doreen Monteleone, Ph.D. and Gary Jones, print industry association leaders, sat down for dinner to discuss a joint health & safety conference, little did they realize this was the beginning of the most comprehensive sustainability movement in the print industry. The dinner conversation focused on the current challenges faced by their members on sustainability. During the evening, it became clear there was no standard approach to sustainability in the industry. That evening, the three created an independent industry sustainability certification- SGP Partnership. Today, SGP Partnership is the leading non-profit certification body for sustainability in the printing industry and its related supply chain.

Three people, one idea. What started as notes on a napkin during dinner changed the sustainability landscape for the printing industry. This is a great example of how networking leads to new ideas.

Fundamental to networking is the development and exchange of ideas.

Approaching networking as an idea generator makes sharing and personal interaction critical to the process. Approaching personal networks with a focus on ideas provides benefits for all. Consistently, networking articles and presentations reference the benefits of sharing challenges and less on career topics. Doris Casares addressed the need for an outward-focused networking approach in the European Association of Communication Directors (EACD) Communication Director magazine:?“Add more value to networking by using 20% to speak about your brand and leave 80% to bring added value. The logical consequence of this is that we will end up creating a long-term, real and loyal community around us.”?[1]

Andreea Hirica, an international marketing strategist based in Brussels, presented the implications of virtual economies on marketing at the November 2019 Contagious Live Event London.[2]?“The most productive relationships come from networking for ideas vs sales or career topics,” Hirica said. “Sharing ideas on how companies can interact in the new virtual economies added many C-suite executives to my network. We are now discussing how to address the new virtual realities created by platforms like EVE Online and Decentraland[3]. The dynamic conversations help my network to develop their own approaches to the new digital reality and strengthen my professional reputation.”

With an outward focus, idea generation in networking is easy. For entrepreneurs, networking can be a key to success in creating and sustaining innovations and business concepts.[4]

Professionals can leverage their networks to get new perspectives. I conducted a networking workshop for millennials at TE Connectivity. The workshop provided a reality check for the communication and engagement programs I manage. From our workshop, I have new ideas for mixing digital content with media to create more impact. A networking workshop is good for sharing a challenge – such as how to connect digital content to customers – and getting out-of-the-box solutions.

In the netoworking workshop, I challenged participants?to create professional networks. “As I am just starting my career, sharing ideas is a great way I can contribute to my network with my unique perspective as a student and consumer,” said Natalie Brauneis, working student at TE Connectivity Germany. “Brainstorming and discussing ideas provides opportunities for me to interact with all levels of people, including top management.”

Leverage professional networks for perspectives and ideas from other industries.

Another idea generation source is expert networks. By bringing together experts in your network and facilitate a directed discussion. Expert networks can reduce the time to generate plans by offering best practices and experience on the topic.[5]?

Another idea generation source is expert networks.

Networking is about sharing ideas. With this realization, social networks become a critical part of innovation, leading to new ways to address challenges.

---

Join Jonathan Graham on Twitter for more topics around business, communications, marketing, health and sustainability.

References

[1]?Casares, Doris. (2015, August 17).?A world connected by dots. Retrieved from Communication Director

[2]?https://www.contagious.com/events

[3]?Andreea Hirica`s virtual economies presentation:?https://jerichochambers.com/virtual-economies/

[4]?Aldrich, Howard and Zimmer, Catherine. “Entrepreneurship through social networks.” PDF https://www.academia.edu/3793234/Entrepreneurship_through_social_networks

[5]?Hagel, John. “Net Gain: Expanding Markets through Virtual Communities.” Journal of Interactive Marketing (1999): 15:1, 37. PDF https://www.academia.edu/4181033/Net_gain_Expanding_markets_through_virtual_communities