The Network Wrangler
Posts
Expanding the Influence of your Inner Circle

Expanding the Influence of your Inner Circle

How your circle can enrich your entire network

Thomas Kriese
March 21, 2024

Hi there, happy Thursday!

Welcome to another issue of the Network Wrangler. We’re up to our 12th edition. I’m so enjoying all the feedback I’m getting from folks hitting reply! Here’s what we’re covering today:

How Your Inner Circle Enriches Your Entire Network
The Art of Requesting Favors
Catch me LIVE on March 25

Hey, can you help me grow my audience? Please forward this newsletter to two people you think would appreciate the content. It’s a great excuse to connect with old connections, too!

Expanding Influence: How Your Inner Circle Enriches Your Entire Network

This week, I want to talk about how the concept of how your Inner Circle transcends just personal growth, extending its influence to enrich our broader network. This phenomenon demonstrates the profound effect that a carefully chosen Inner Circle (comprising Mentors, Motivators, Connectors, Challengers, and Supporters) can have not only on us but also on our wider social and professional circles. By understanding the unique roles each of these archetypes play, we can leverage their collective power to magnify our influence and create a ripple effect of opportunity and growth around us.

Mentors, with their wealth of experience and wisdom, guide us through challenges and decisions. The insights gained from mentors can be shared within our wider network, offering guidance and inspiration to others. This shared wisdom fosters a culture of learning and ambition, elevating the collective knowledge and aspirations of our entire network, not just us.
Motivators are the driving force that keeps us moving forward, especially through challenging times. Their energy and encouragement are contagious; by sharing their positive messages and successes, we can inspire motivation in others. This collective motivation can lead to increased productivity and success within our broader circles, as we all push towards our goals with a renewed and renewable energy.
Connectors are invaluable for their ability to bring people together, creating bridges between different groups and individuals. Their knack for networking not only expands our personal and professional horizons but also opens up opportunities for others within our network. By facilitating these connections, we enable collaboration and innovation, enriching our entire ecosystem of relationships.
Challengers provoke thought, encourage us to question our assumptions, and push us to achieve more. This critical perspective, when shared, stimulates a culture of critical thinking and continuous improvement among our wider contacts. Challengers help create an environment where everyone is encouraged to challenge the status quo and strive for excellence. It’s a demonstration of vulnerability to let others see us being challenged and this helps create a sense of safety and trust with those around us.
Supporters offer emotional and moral backing, providing a foundation of stability and confidence. The strength and encouragement we receive from our supporters can be passed on, creating a supportive and resilient community. This collective support system enhances the well-being of our broader network, making it more cohesive and strong in the face of adversity.

By consciously curating and nurturing these key relationships, we can ensure that the benefits of our Inner Circle extend beyond our immediate surroundings, fostering a network that is rich in opportunities, support, and collective success.

In essence, the archetypes within our Inner Circle act as catalysts for widespread influence and growth. By leveraging the unique contributions of our own Mentors, Motivators, Connectors, Challengers, and Supporters, we can enhance our impact on our entire network.

Want to go even deeper? Pick up a copy of my book, The Inner Circle Effect: Harnessing the Power of Your Closest Connections (Kindle or paperback).

The Art of Requesting Favors: Quality Over Quantity

With online social networking, where connections are just a click away, it's crucial to navigate the delicate dance of making requests with grace and etiquette. The key to leveraging your network effectively isn't in bombarding your connections with countless requests; rather, it's in making thoughtful, specific requests that respect the time and resources of those you're reaching out to.

When you find yourself in need of support, pause and consider the nature of your request. Is it something that truly requires external assistance? Can this particular connection genuinely provide the help you need? By being selective in your requests, you signal to your network that you value their expertise and time, and that you're not merely casting a wide net in hope of catching any form of help available.

If you’ve ever received a request in a post on your feed addressed to “lazywebs:” you’ve experienced what it’s like to be on the receiving end of an indiscriminate request. The first time it’s cute. The next time it’s annoying. The third time’s grounds for abandonment. Why would you ever knowingly do this to someone else?

Furthermore, timing is everything. A barrage of requests can overwhelm your connections, potentially straining relationships and diluting the impact of your appeals. Instead, space out your requests and tailor them to the individuals you believe are most suited to assist. This approach not only increases the likelihood of receiving the help you need but also strengthens your relationships by demonstrating respect and consideration.

Remember, in the realm of social networking, less is often more. By making fewer, more specific requests, you foster a culture of mutual respect and support within your network, paving the way for stronger, more meaningful connections.

Embrace the power of asking wisely, and watch as your network becomes an invaluable asset in achieving your goals.

LIVE EVENT: Navigating Cold Connections for Success on March 25, 9am PDT

Next week, on Monday, March 25 at 9am PDT (noon in NYC), I’ll be doing an hour-long LinkedIn Audio event with my good friend (and Professional Wing Woman) Shaena Harrison.

We’re cracking open the conversation on re-engaging with your network. It’s something many of us dread, but hey, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Our live session is the perfect place to tackle this together, in real time.

Expect a super relaxed vibe where you're more than welcome to jump in, share your take, or even join us on stage. Or, you can simply eat your popcorn quietly in the audience.

Think of it as a cozy chat among friends, all about turning those "should I really reach out?" moments into "glad I did" ones.

Grab your spot to attend here.

This Week’s Quick Hits

Here’s a hack for melding your mind to ChatGPT. Add the following to the end of any prompt to make sure all the context gets out of your head and into the AI: “Ask me any clarifying questions you need to know the answers to in order to give me the best response.” Come to think of it, it’ll work on humans, too!
The power of networking local: community forms a makeshift rideshare service for a man who used to walk 5 miles to work everyday. (CBS News)

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get your very own copy direct to your mailbox starting next week!

That’s all for this week. See you next Thursday!

— Thomas

PS: Heads-up, April 2 is my next available date for coaching. We might be a good fit if you know you need to reconnect with your network and want to make 2024 the year you harness the power of your connections.