Coaching for Leaders

347: The Power of Weak Connections, with David Burkus

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David Burkus: Friend of a Friend

David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought-after speaker, and an associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University. His TED talk has been viewed over 1.8 million times, he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review, and he’s now listed on Thinkers50. He’s just released his new book, Friend of a Friend*.

Key Points
  • Networking should not just be about meeting total strangers.
  • Constantly providing value to your network doesn’t mean you have to be close friends with everyone.
  • It’s impossible to maintain close ties with everyone in your network.
  • Don’t just rely on close connections, because they’re likely in the same circles as you.
  • Weak ties are more likely to provide valuable information.
  • When networking, it’s fine to start with your close connections to warm up, but you can’t stop there.
  • Don’t let your connections get too dormant — regularly engage with them.
  • Follow people on social media to know what’s going on in their lives, and then send them a personal message.
  • Make your inner circle diverse to be sure you’re getting the wide-ranging insight you need.
  • A diverse network will give you information you wouldn’t otherwise have.
    • Resources Mentioned
    • Friend of a Friend* by David Burkus
    • How To Give and Get The Introductions That Will Transform Your Life and Your Career
      • Book Notes

      Download my highlights from Friend of a Friend in PDF format (free membership required).

      Related Episodes
      • How Superbosses Master the Flow of Talent, with Sydney Finkelstein (episode 236)
      • New Management Practices of Leading Organizations, with David Burkus (episode 253)
      • How to Deal With the Diminishers, with Liz Wiseman (episode 305)
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