Contacts in different communities can reveal information, expertise and opportunities beyond a familiar network.
01 · The picture
Contacts in different communities can reveal information, expertise and opportunities beyond a familiar network.
Follow the decisions
01Different circles
02Useful conversations
03Relevant introduction
04New capability
02 · The idea
How I understand it.
A network gains reach when it connects people with different experiences and information. Colleagues in the same industry or organisation may hear similar news and know similar people. Acquaintances in other fields can bring a new perspective or introduce someone with a useful capability. Notice which circles your relationships already cover and where your understanding is thin. Participate in settings that create repeated, meaningful contact, and take an interest in what others are trying to achieve. Share relevant information and make introductions when there is a clear reason for both people to benefit. Ask permission before connecting them. Over time, these relationships can shorten the route to expertise, resources or opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to discover.
03 · A fictional example
Put it into a business.
A manufacturer’s founder joins a local university mentoring group. A researcher there introduces her to a packaging specialist from a different industry, with both people’s agreement. Their conversation reveals a testing method the factory can use. The founder later connects the researcher with an employer seeking student projects, giving the relationship a useful purpose for everyone involved locally.
04 · Bring it into the room
Which community outside your usual circle could help you understand a problem from a new angle?
One decisionOne next actionOne way to check
Where this note comes from
An original explanation drawn from my saved learning material. The worked example is fictional.
London Business SchoolCourse reading or session material
Lois Weisberg
PDF pages 8 and 11–12: breadth of social circles and the discussion of weak ties
These notes collect my interpretations and applications. The schools and authors retain their original teaching materials.