7 Ways to Diversify Your Network

Diversity is its own reward. Moving into new worlds is sure to be interesting, but Ron Burt, a professor at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, says you can expect even more good things. Burt researches the benefits of networking.  

Here are a few of the advantages that accrue to the well-connected.  

• They have a hand in and exercise control over more rewarding opportunities.
• They are paid better and promoted faster.
• They move information faster and to more people.
• They use less time and energy to get good results.
• They can tailor solutions instead of relying on one-size-fits-all answers to challenges. 

Use these strategies to diversify your network:  

1. Allow serendipity. Challenge yourself to link with someone completely outside your usual milieu.
2. Give yourself time with someone. Call a member of your professional association and plan to travel to the next event together – share a cab, ride the Metro, walk a few blocks. Again, each of you should bring something to share.
3. Get a fast idea. Go to FastCompany.com. Past issues of the magazine are archived. Use a key word to get to a topic or organization you have never before delved into.
4. Set up a lunch bunch. Call three other people for lunch. At lunch, give each person 15 minutes to tell something interesting or innovative about his or her organization or life.
5. Sit with a new person. Call someone you don‘t know well and invite that person to sit with you at an upcoming event.
6. Step out. Look in today’s newspaper for information about a meeting of a group you’ve never gone to.
7. Talk about something new. Get with a long-time networking contact and interview that person to find some topic you’ve never discussed before.