Play Valdis Krebs Podcast Now Hit Link here
This is Valdis Krebs - The Galileo of human Social Networks - ie the person who shows us what they look like, when before they were invisible, and who shows us the simple rules that drive them.
The few nations that were early into navigation and exploration in the 16th century, did very well. As we ourselves move into a world where all the advantages will accrue to those that understand Networks, I think it is vital that we understand how to navigate in the Network world.
The problem that many of us have is that when we hear the work "Network" we think of TV networks or Telephone networks that are driven by the old rules of engineering. What Valdis talks about mainly are Natural Networks, of which human social networks are a part. These are driven by the rules of Emergence and Nature and NOT by the rules of the CEO.
The good news is that the Rules of Nature in this regard are simple to understand and to operate.
This is the "Map" that we are now going to explore.
Definitions:
- Valdis opens with defining the 3 categories of Networks - Man made TV, Roads etc - Biological ie nervous systems - Human Social Networks (HSN's) are not designed - they emerge from the interactions from all of us (Lots more here on Emergence)
- Discusses the centres of HSN's - Each of has a network around us - But we are located in a nucleus a homopholy a cluster - and what extends out from that are people who are less and less close
- Discusses Diversity - we start with closeness and sameness - but then useful to push out into the less like us - some of us like to connect to different groups - see my post on My Network - Linch Pins
- What is a high quality network - learns and reacts well - Too many density is not good. But too little density is not a good thing either
So what to do?
- How do you set in motion emergence - Valdis makes the point that the core is always a triangle and closing out these triangles is the work
- The trick is to close a lot in the centre - the centre should be densely connected - so we don't have to go through only you and so avoid being a bottleneck - closed triangles = trust and speed
- But you don't want to close ALL your triangles - risk then you end up with an echo chamber
- So look at who should be connected - what is the value or not of being connected - close the triangles around them that make sense - the OPEN UP NEW ONES
- Which we may then close or NOT
It's Simple
- Remember triangles and open or close when you see the value
- So if all in the network does this - then we get great value
Measurement - How does the small artisan measure the health of her network?
- Look at their contacts - email etc - find your inner core who will be <6 and >15
- See what connections you have to make to make this dense
- Then look out to key people that you trust - Like Valdis and Rob
Here I find the Permaflower a great Mapping Tool. I fill my Network into this design and then I can see what to do to make it healthier.
Weak Ties
- Weak ties is a bad term now. It is not a person you meet casually at a conference at the shrimp bowl. This is NO TIE - There can be no Trust!
- Real Weak Ties are your old college room mates, your old colleagues, they are people who were once close but who now travel in different circles. There has to be TRUST. Now we are in different places and directions but when we come back together it's still magic.
- Trust is there but now in a different world
- You will get a job from her but not from the guy at the shrimp bowl! You don't know him. You college room mate Yes!
- You don't need a lot of interaction with old and real friends but you do need Trust
Good Luck with this. Soon more Podcasts that will take us deeper into understanding what we have to become as a person to have a great network. Note the verb BE not DO.
