As an individual you can achieve a limited amount. Your network expands your skills, relationships and opportunities. By understanding your network, learning to leverage and nurture it you give yourself and your company access to a significant resource.
Your network includes:
(1) Colleagues past, present and clients. Colleagues can see you in action and can attest to the caliber of your work and thus if opportunities arise be in a position to recommend you. Past colleagues have the benefit of having a different industry or company point of view and thus may be able to leverage their external contacts to help you grow your business. If you are in an industry where you are an advisor learn to understand your client's industry and needs to determine how your skills can best be leveraged.
(2)Alumni Groups, Sports Clubs, Volunteer Events. Individuals you meet outside of your workday often have day jobs and or know people relevant to you and your business. Because you interact with these individuals on a collegial level, they often do not know what you do in your career as clearly as your colleagues do. Give yourself the chance to learn about them, their interests and their industry and be candid about what you do. This will help you identify complimentary opportunities.
(3)Virtual Social Networks. More relationships are followed via e-mail, LinkedIn updates, tweets etc. These connections span across countries and industries and offer you a broad network quickly, one that can be reached anytime of day. However, do not be fooled by the quantity as displayed in your network because each of these relationships if not maintained simply results in clutter. Use the social networking tools to maintain your relationships rather than reveling in the high numbers.
(4)Recruiters and Headhunters. Recruiters are on top of the needs of their respective industry and thus are a great resource to understand the needs of various companies. By working with the recruiter to fill their spots you establish yourself as a source for leads and learn about opportunities to leverage your or your company's assets.
There are other types of networks as well such as close friends and family, these networks are more complicated to leverage due to the close nature of your relationship that is more personal then professional but can of-course be leveraged. The relationships that you build should go both ways.
