Listen to people talk about getting things done... new clients, resources, donors, jobs... you constantly hear "it is who you know".
I would like to disagree with this old adage. It has never been true. The fact that you know someone does not give you any access to them, their thoughts or their resources. This is especially true in these media rich times that we are living in today. When you constantly see a person on television, YouTube!, Facebook, MySpace, LInkedIn, the magazine covers or newspaper front pages, you "think" you know them. In reality, there is no reciprocal realtionship between you and that person. A reciprocal relationship is indeed what is necessary for networks to work effetively for you.
What is important is who knows you! Great - you know them. If they do not know you, they will not respond to your requests. Once a person knows you, they will go out of their way to assist you.
We constantly talk about networking as a way of getting things done. Networking is called the most effective job search strategy. Simply outlined this strategy looks like this:
Letter stating the reason for contact and promising a phone call
Phone call to request a short face to face meeting
Face to face meeting
Thank you letter for face to face meeting
These steps are then repeated with each person to whom you are referred.
Yes - you are getting to know the people you are meeting. The most important element, however, is what they come to know about you. That knowledge will determine who they send you to next. Knowledge of you is what keeps you in their active mental file. If you are in their mental file, your name comes up when they are speaking with colleagues.
It is who knows you in this scenario - not who you know. Network to become a known person. Volunteer in civic organizations. Actively participate in professional associations. Serve on committees, boards, work teams. Let people see you work. All of these elements of life help you to become known.
It is who knows you.