Social Chemistry-Marissa King

Recent Book Read - Social Chemistry 

     Author : Marissa King 

Social Chemistry is capable to  transform the way one  thinks about “networking.” Understanding the contours of social network can dramatically enhance personal relationships, work life, and even your global impact.

Author shows how anyone can build more meaningful and productive relationships based on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and network analytics. Conventional wisdom says it's the size of your network that matters, but social science research has proven there is more to it. King explains that the quality and structure of our relationships has the greatest impact on our personal and professional lives. 

The author divides networkers into 3 main types: expansionist, broker, or convenor.

An expansionist is at ease with approaching strangers and exceptionally talented at forging spontaneous ties. If you're an expansionist, you probably have an address book full of contacts. But while you know all your connections, your connections are less likely to know each other.

A broker tends to have a diverse network of people with different interests and expertise. Brokers are naturals at bringing these varied people together. The connections the broker facilitates often result in innovation and collaboration. If you're a broker, most of your contacts are, like you, creative and open-minded.

A convenor, you're probably trusted and valued within your network, thanks to the quality of the relationships you're forged there. 

No one style of networking is better than the other. But learning which style is yours can help you become a better networker. 

Whether you're a convenor, broker, or expansionist, your networking style should come naturally to you. However, if you want to level up your networking game, you need to hybridize your networking, adopting the best tactics from other networking styles. 

To begin with, remember that different networking styles are better suited to different life stages.

Expansionist networks, boasting lots of weak ties, are more likely to generate the random connections that can result in a job offer. So, if you're a recent college grad, think about broadening your network.

Meanwhile, most people are best positioned to act as brokers in the middle of their careers. They have enough status to have amassed a number of skilled, powerful connections - but not so much that they've become risk-averse. If you're a mid-tier mid-career employee, try your hand at brokering connections between different professional bubbles. Brokers and convenors can both consider oscillating or switching between time spent cultivating strong ties and time spent brokering new connections. 

Don't neglect dormant ties. As we move through life stages, we inevitably lose touch with people we once close with. And many of us feel embarrassed about rekindling these relationships. But dormant ties can be valuable. If you've gone down different life paths, you'll probably glean fresh perspectives from spending time with them.

Author Marrisa King concludes the book with her finding that in combination, brokers, expansionists and conveners can make the world small. They strike a beautiful balance between order and randomness. This is how  brains and ecosystems and ant colonies work. Despite the differences in personality and preferences of brokers, expansionists and conveners, they all contribute to creating a brilliant, vibrant human order.