Today the average person changes jobs every 4 years.  No employers guarantee lifetime employment any longer for any employee.  Even CEO’s for top companies have statistically average life of less than 3 years. 

The number one strategy most employees use is the “Hope” plan.  In other words, hoping you end up someplace good.  The obvious problem with this strategy is that long term success is doesn’t happen organically.  The Executive Outlier will have a career strategy that starts with a vision.  In that vision the Executive Outlier considers several factors including: Timing, preparation and execution.  Lets review some of the basics of career strategy planning and the types of learning and skills required to keep ahead of your game.

I also call this the “Who do you know strategy.”  When developing a business strategy, we go to our weak link network. Write a custom email to each person in your network and If they know someone who could be a prospect, invite the weak link to have a personal phone call or meeting.  You can then discuss their connection and the best way to make an approach.  There are two ways to make the introduction and referral: 1) In-person or 2) by email. 

Note:
Weak links are people in your network you don't connect with frequently.
These are your best referral partners.

Why is it important to have an inner circle?

For leaders to collaborate effectively, it is essential they have people's trust.  Studies show strong leaders consistently have circles of trusted advisors.  These circles of advisors are called triads.  Within these leadership triads, games and politics don't typically exist.  As an organization, members begin telling the leader what they think the leader wants to hear.  This leads to problems since leader is not getting the truth. An inner circle of advisors, a triad, ensures truth and wisdom is shared, without games.

What your network should look like in a few years…

As you are business networking and meet many people, there are very rare individuals you will want to keep an eye out for.  If you can learn to spot them, you will definitely want them in your weak link circle.  If you see them in the future as a strong connection, you may want to invest time to make them part of your inner strong link circle. 

They will be master and expert networkers, rare personalities. As you meet them, you will find yourself naturally drawn to them want to cultivate a friendship. 

Many sales professionals and business owners focus their strategy primarily on "get more referrals".  Instead, Master Networkers develop their network and focus on influence within the business community. To become a master networker, there is an emphasis on developing strong links inside the business community and leadership Triads.  To generate sales In this strategy, the vision is to become the trusted advisor or business community influencer. 

Within every strategic business plan, optimizing the three business networking personality types is a top priority. Firt first are Rainmakers. They are mysterious people who seem to make things happen... like  magic.  You will find Rainmakers in any industry but the term is particularly used in sales. 

Sales is traditionally seen as a “numbers game”.  The Rainmaker doesn’t play this game.  Instead, a Rainmaker brings in deals almost magically.  Of the three types, the Rainmaker is the rarest.  

The secret of Rainmakers is their large Strong Link network which comes from their ability to easily build rapport. In this strategy we are building rapport quickly in order to build a strong collaborative network.  With that network, the Rainmaker is able to put together deals and opportunities very quickly. 

The most active and win-win providers of the three personality types of networkers  for Connectors and Rainmakers are Mavens. While there are extroverted Mavens, there are probably more introverted than extroverted mavens. This is valuable because they are very good at understanding complex and counter-intuitive problems. 

During events Mavens will be friendly, but most likely to the point.  They won’t be enjoying the social aspects of the event as much as the introvert.  This often means they are very focused on the reason for attending the event. They are likely to "get in and out" to maintain emotional energy.

Because they are counter intuitive, their audience will take a while to catch on.  Unlike the Rainmaker or the Connector, the Maven needs the most time to develop a great rapport and reputation. 

What's a connector?

Imagine sitting down with someone who wants to hear everything about you.  Most of us enjoy sharing our lives, insights and thoughts with other people.  We all love a good listener.  The connector is probably the best listener there is.  Because a true connector is truly interested in you as a person.  Understanding people’s stories is one of the passions that truly energizes the Connector.  The Connector Strategy is dependent on,

1. Developing a large network of casual friends
2. Maintaining Regular contact
3. Recording casual friends in order to track contacts made and referrals received