Rule #10: Build Your Army

Many people find professional networking so distasteful that it makes them feel morally and physically dirty. Seriously. Research shows we have a really negative association with the idea. And women in particular don't build the networks they could. According to?a study by SAGE Publishing?women put up some self-imposed barriers to building their networks, including modesty. This is the tendency to undersell their values and strengths, and a reluctance to leverage their connections as a means to get ahead in their careers.

That's why I love the rule from?this week’s guest?Gillian Power. She says instead of networking, to Build Your Army. "Networking" as most people define it is meeting people who could help you move up in your career or give you business. Building an army on the other hand is seeking out those you want to join in an adventure.

Here's how I think about building my army:

1. Strengthen relationships you already have. If you haven't talked to someone in over a year, don't count on that person as a relationship. I try to look through my LinkedIn contacts on a regular basis to see who has found a new position or is doing something interesting that I can use as a basis to say hello. I'm even trying out a?brand new tool?that reminds you to check in with relationships you haven't spoken to in a while.
2. Find awesome people you want to learn from. Most people start thinking about their networks when they are looking for a new opportunity or have something they want to sell. These are horrible times to make new relationships because they can sense your desperation. Instead, I use these times to lean on the army I've already created. And when I'm not in one of these moments in my life, I expand my army by seeking out individuals I want to learn from. These are people who are doing fun, amazing things that can expand how I see the world and what's possible.
3. Create the party you want to attend. When you've got the bandwidth, you can also expand your army by creating a new group. You can invite people who are already in your network to come and ask them to bring their coolest friends. Whether it's a dinner party, a fundraiser for a worthy organization, or a group for people who all want to accomplish their first pull up, you can quickly expand your network by helping others do the same.

When I first started The Growth League podcast, everyone who my producers and I reached out to cold said no to the invitation. So, I leaned on my existing network for the first handful of guests. And once I interviewed someone awesome, I always asked them to introduce me to three other potential guests that were just as great as they were. These early efforts caused a snowball effect, yielding more and more amazing guests and helping me access incredible individuals who I'd have no other way of meeting.

I don't think about the career moves that my network can help with. Those are so few and far between. I think about the daily growth and learning I'll achieve by having these incredible people in my army and by being a member of theirs.

-Diana

P.S. I'd love to hear how you think about building your army, and what tips you can offer to the rest of us! Comment below!