Comments on: How Big Should a Network Be? Part 2: Thoughts on Dunbar Numbers http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/ Mimi Spangler's Blog on Rainmaking and Business Development Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:48:43 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Ford Harding http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-37019 Ford Harding Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:50:22 +0000 http://www.hardingco.com/blog/?p=565#comment-37019 Mike and Steve: You make a valid point. Perhaps I should have stated my question differently. I am frequently asked by people learning to network how big their network needs to be. I think it unresponsive to say simply as big as possible. I am trying to give them some sense of the numbers they will need in order to gain some control over their lead flow. This is ultimately a probablistic question, to which there can be no definitive answer but some sort of guidance is called for. Ford Harding Mike and Steve:

You make a valid point. Perhaps I should have stated my question differently. I am frequently asked by people learning to network how big their network needs to be. I think it unresponsive to say simply as big as possible. I am trying to give them some sense of the numbers they will need in order to gain some control over their lead flow. This is ultimately a probablistic question, to which there can be no definitive answer but some sort of guidance is called for.

Ford Harding

]]> By: Steve Shu http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-37017 Steve Shu Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:22:50 +0000 http://www.hardingco.com/blog/?p=565#comment-37017 How to apply the Dunbar number and/or adapt it for contexts outside of it's original context is an interesting area, and I think you are right about always seeking to know more people than you think you need to know. How people leverage technology and other people are other interesting areas. I am reminded of a real estate agent who is one of the top performers in the Midwest. She maintains a huge network of contacts via Facebook (1000s?). I also believe that she heavily uses personal assistants to set up calls, handle holiday cards, gather value-add material, etc. to keep herself connected. Best, Steve How to apply the Dunbar number and/or adapt it for contexts outside of it’s original context is an interesting area, and I think you are right about always seeking to know more people than you think you need to know.

How people leverage technology and other people are other interesting areas. I am reminded of a real estate agent who is one of the top performers in the Midwest. She maintains a huge network of contacts via Facebook (1000s?). I also believe that she heavily uses personal assistants to set up calls, handle holiday cards, gather value-add material, etc. to keep herself connected.

Best,
Steve

]]> By: Mike http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-37015 Mike Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:46:11 +0000 http://www.hardingco.com/blog/?p=565#comment-37015 Ford, I'm not sure this is a relevant question. By defining an appropriate network size, you give someone the excuse to stop networking once they hit that finish line. For better/worse networks are dynamic - contacts move/get laid-off/retire. In this economy, I don't know how anyone could begin to categorize their stable vs. unstable relationships (plus I have received many referrals from "unstable" contacts). Instead of trying to predict how many stable relationships are needed at the end of the day, is it better to focus on how many unstable relationships can be made and marginally maintained? Mike Ford,
I’m not sure this is a relevant question. By defining an appropriate network size, you give someone the excuse to stop networking once they hit that finish line. For better/worse networks are dynamic – contacts move/get laid-off/retire. In this economy, I don’t know how anyone could begin to categorize their stable vs. unstable relationships (plus I have received many referrals from “unstable” contacts).

Instead of trying to predict how many stable relationships are needed at the end of the day, is it better to focus on how many unstable relationships can be made and marginally maintained?

Mike

]]> By: Ford Harding http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-37011 Ford Harding Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:20:10 +0000 http://www.hardingco.com/blog/?p=565#comment-37011 David: Gladwell was referring to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Granovetter" rel="nofollow">Mark Granovetter</a>'s theory of "The Strength of Weak Ties." It is absolutely applicable to business referral networks. Ford Harding David:

Gladwell was referring to Mark Granovetter‘s theory of “The Strength of Weak Ties.” It is absolutely applicable to business referral networks.

Ford Harding

]]> By: David Rockett http://www.hardingco.com/blog/2009/12/09/how-big-should-a-network-be-part-2-thoughts-on-dunbar-numbers/comment-page-1/#comment-37009 David Rockett Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:35:33 +0000 http://www.hardingco.com/blog/?p=565#comment-37009 Hey Ford, I'm not sure where this fits, but didn't malcolm gladwell have much to say about the value of the "casual aquaintance"? Though i believe it related to 'new employment' it still seems to have good application in some businesses -- especially those that are often, or become transactional rather than always consultive. Indeed, some detailed consultive relationships begin that way, only to become somewhat tranactional in follow-up years later. Anyway, i don't believe "size of network" applies the same to all professions, all networks, or even multi-networks. 150 will be far too small for some, and too large for others. David E. Rockett The Charitable Steward 318.237.1229 agsteward@juno.com Hey Ford,

I’m not sure where this fits, but didn’t malcolm gladwell have much to say about the value of the “casual aquaintance”? Though i believe it related to ‘new employment’ it still seems to have good application in some businesses — especially those that are often, or become transactional rather than always consultive. Indeed, some detailed consultive relationships begin that way, only to become somewhat tranactional in follow-up years later. Anyway, i don’t believe “size of network” applies the same to all professions, all networks, or even multi-networks. 150 will be far too small for some, and too large for others.

David E. Rockett
The Charitable Steward
318.237.1229
agsteward@juno.com

]]>