*Innovators are connected–they know where to find and get help, and they flourish in cultures that encourage collaboration.
In a recent Harvard Business Review "Management Tip of the Day", the editors do a little unpacking of the old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." But, how do you know whom to know? HBR's tip was to develop three types of necessary networks:
- A 'Personal Support' Network–These are the relationships we need to form with people who help you get back on track during a bad day. These folks can help you get back to center, if not back on top. These are the folks you can wear your sweatshirt and jeans around….people you can be yourself with;
- A 'Purpose' Network–These are the people that validate your work, and the ones that remind you your work has purpose and meaning. These can be your most engaged stakeholders such as a supervisor, partner, dean, or principal;
- A 'Balance' Network–These are the folks that help you stay on the life wagon. They help with your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These folks are the ones you can count on to hold you accountable for your own personal health.
A full-blown exploration of this type of networking is found in the article "A Smarter Way to Network" by Rob Cross and Robert Thomas.
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