Identifying & Harnessing The Power of Networking

Part 1

Dr. Elijah EzenduFIMC, FCCM, FIIAN, FBDI, FAAFM, FSSM, MIMIS, MIAP, MITD, ACIArb, ACIPM,

PhD, DocM, MBA, CWM, CBDA, CMA, MPM, PME, CSOL, CCIP, CMC, CMgr

“Effective networking will make the difference between a highly skilled worker and an average worker. I think professional workers and their employers are going to come to appreciate and understand networking as more of a hard skill than a soft skill.” - Julia Hobsbawm, Cass Business School, London

“Effective business networking is the bringing together of like minded individuals who through relationship building become walking, talking advertisements for one another.” - Lauren Neilson

“Networking involves accessing people in order to develop connections that function as mutual bridges thereby yielding supportive advocates at both ends.” - Elijah Ezendu

Elements of Networks

• Mutual Bridges: Connections built through interaction.

• Supportive Advocates: People who provide recommendation and facilitate access to more networks.

• Network Microstructure: Biological Families, Psychological Families, Cliques.

• Network Megastructure: Companies, Institutions, Organisations.

The Power of Networking• Belief • Reputation• Enhanced Visibility• Recognition & Respect• Guarantee of Legitimacy• Actuated Acceptance• Recommendation & Referrals• Extended Access• Networking Process• Alliance• Intellectual Capital

Belief

Networking provides opportunity for people to believe in a person as one who has specified capabilities.

Reputation

Networking facilitates diffusion of status and boosts networker’s brand to heighten reputation in the circle of advocates.

Enhanced Visibility

The advocates in a person’s network hoist flags of information and confirmation that enhance visibility in the market of resources and talents.

Recognition & Respect

Networking gives room for a person to become identified and properly honoured as a result of influence or bandwagon effect.

Guarantee of Legitimacy

The commendation and nomination of an individual consign guarantee of legitimacy capable of generating opportunities and additional advocates.

Actuated Acceptance

The action of a network advocate induces other people in the same network tree to accord approval for acceptance.

Recommendation & Referral

The strength of mutual bridge between two networkers drives recommendation and referrals that generate new businesses and relationships.

Extended Access

A well nurtured mutual bridge provides extended access to other people in a network tree based on understanding, interest and value.

Networking Process involves two or more people embarking on dynamic interaction to go through networking access, networker engagement and relationship assessment for the purpose of yielding alliance of supportive advocates.

Networking Process by Elijah Ezendu

Networking Access

Networker Engagement

Relationship Assessment

Alliance of Supportive Advocates

Alliance is an open ended agreement between two or more entities for the purpose of deploying resources to accomplish specific objectives.

Examples of Alliances in Networking

• H to H Alliance• H to C Alliance• C to C Alliance• H to H to I Alliance• I to H to H to C Alliance• I to C to H to I Alliance• IWFC to H to I Alliance

H to H Alliance

Mutual Bridge

Microstructure

H to C Alliance

Mutual Bridge

Microstructure Microstructure

C to C Alliance

Mutual Bridge

Microstructure Microstructure

H to H to I Alliance

MB MB

Megastructure

I to H to H to C Alliance

MB MB MB MB

Microstructure

MB MB MB

I to C to H to I Alliance

Megastructure Microstructure

MB MB MB

IWFC to H to I Alliance

Complex Megastructure

Megastructure

MB MB

Human Capital Relationship CapitalNetwork Structural Capital

Collaboration

Innovation

Influence

Collective Brand

Advocate Base

Institutional Affiliations

Human Capabilities

Intellectual Capital of Human Network

Structural Assets of Human Network

• Collaboration………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

• Innovation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..............

• Influence………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Relationship Assets of Human Networks

• Collective Brand …………………………………………... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

• Advocate Base ……………………………………………... ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

• Institutional Affiliations ……………………………..... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Dr. Elijah Ezendu is Award-Winning Business Expert & Certified Management Consultant with expertise in HR, OD, Competitive Intelligence, Strategy, Restructuring, Business Development, Sales & Marketing, Interim Management, CSR, Leadership, Project & Programme Management, Cost Management, Outsourcing, Franchising, Intellectual Capital, eBusiness, Social Media, Software Architecture, Cloud Computing, eLearning & International Business. He holds proprietary rights of various systems. He is currently CEO, Rubiini (UAE); Hon. President, Worldwide Independent Inventors Association; Special Advisor, RTEAN; Director, MMNA Investments Limited. He had functioned as Chair, International Board of GCC Business Council (UAE); Senior Partner, Shevach Consulting; Chairman (Certification & Training), Coordinator (Board of Fellows), Lead Assessor & Governing Council Member, Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria; Lead Resource, Centre for Competitive Intelligence Development; Turnaround Project Director, Consolidated Business Holdings Limited; Lead Consultant/ Partner, JK Michaels; Technical Director, Gestalt; Chief Operating Officer, Rohan Group; Executive Director (Various Roles), Fortuna, Gambia & Malta; Director, The Greens; Chief Advisor/Partner, D & E; Vice Chairman, Refined Shipping; Director of Programmes & Governing Council Member, Institute of Business Development, Nigeria; Member of TDD Committee, International Association of Software Architects, USA; Member of Strategic Planning and Implementation Committee, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria; Adjunct Faculty, Regent Business School, South Africa; Adjunct Faculty, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria; Editor-in-Chief & Chairman of Editorial Board, Cost Management Journal; National Executive Council Member, Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria; Member, Board of Directors (Several Organizations). He holds Doctoral Degree in Management, Master of Business Administration and Fellowship of Several Professional Institutes in North America, UK & Nigeria. He is an author & widely featured speaker in workshops, conferences & retreats. He was involved in developing Specialist Master’s Degree Course Content for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Nigeria) and Jones International University (USA). He holds Interim Management Assignments on Boards of Companies as Non-Executive Director.

Thank You