The Value of Your Network

A people network is made up of relationships. And relationships have value.

If you read the earlier articles on getting started, you know how helpful a people network can be. It's a collection of people, and our relationships with those people can benefit us in many ways.

We have to always see the people in our network first as individuals—fellow humans.

It would be dishonest to pretend that knowing a lot of people—this "people network"— doesn't bring potential value to us.

Personal value

• People who encourage us
• People who listen
• People who share experiences
• People who challenge our thinking
• People who celebrate our successes
• People who help us through difficult seasons

Professional value

• Learning from other people's experience
• Being exposed to new ideas
• Finding collaborators
• Getting advice
• Discovering opportunities
• Making introductions

Long-term value

• Relationships that span different seasons of life
• People who know us beyond our current job or title
• A sense of belonging
• A community of people who care about our success

A people network has some of the characteristics of an asset. It can represent greater value as you maintain it, and it can lose value if you don't. The asset analogy is useful if it helps you value your network and encourages you to care for it.

But a people network is different from most assets because the value goes both ways. We can receive value from the people in our network, but we also contribute to the lives of the people in it.

You're building a community in which people naturally help, encourage, teach, connect, and support one another. There is much value in being part of this community.

The value of your people network isn't determined by how many people you know. It comes from your relationships within this community.