Networking strategies.

What really matters is:

1. A hub – the one with the more direct connections - is important but where
those connections lead to…. If all connections are (f.ex.) in the same cluster
(a social group, co-workers etc) there is no way to have access to the whole
picture of the network or else there is limited access in resources. The hub
has usually the advantage of trust: the more an actor is trusted the more likely
other people initiate a connection with him (tie with the popular maximize the
status of the actor)
2. A broker -the one that is between clusters or two important constituencies-
can control the flow of the information and have access to a broader diversity
of information or detecting opportunities (Burt, 1992). A broker’s good
strategy would be not to put effort into transforming the weak ties in strong
ties or prevent weak ties from becoming strong, but optimize the network by
establishing new relationships so that he can have access to resources and
people that previously he couldn’t reach (Bunt and all, 2005).
1. The nodes on the periphery of a network (bridges or brokers) are well-
positioned to be innovators, since they have access to ideas and information
flowing in from other clusters.
2. The best visibility into what is happening in the network and an excellent
position to monitor the information flow has the one with the fewest jumps
between people in the network (seen Krebs, 2010. Social Network Analysis, A
Brief Introduction)
3. Peripheral ties maybe connected to networks that are not yet visible. They
can provide very important resources for fresh information not available inside
the network.
4. Who is in your network neighborhood? who can you reach? A 3 step
connection changes the length of the path significantly. The "small world" in
which we live is not one of "six degrees of separation" but of direct and
indirect connections < 3 steps away (Friedkin, Burt).
5. Trust can be a choice behavior (Kramer, 1999) not a psychological state. So,
if there is a potential benefit from engagement, copy with the trust dilemma:
assess the risks of vulnerability.
So, truck the path, revise your possibilities, redefine your target.

Think in terms of relational dynamics, Search for the right mix of strong and
weak ties and Optimize your network structure to increase opportunities.