Task 3b – Theories relating to networking

Hey Guys

Who knew that there was so much to Networking. 

Really interesting but it was like reading through syrup at times. 

Anyway I hope you find it interesting. 

Task 3b – Theories relating to networking

CONCEPT – COOPERATION

Everyone is trying to make there own way in the world. Everyone is ultimately doing what’s best for him or her. If this is the case, on the occasions where it could be mutually beneficial to cooperate, how do you ensure that BOTH people gain?

1 – Who makes the first move (Initial Viability)

2 – Finding a way that works (Robustness)

3 – Keep it working, stop others from taking advantage (Stability)

Game Theory was my first great eye opener in this new exploration of the Professional Network.

There’s an audition tomorrow where they are looking for ONE guy/ TWO guys. I’m going, but do I contact my friend to see if he would like me to get him in to? Would they do the same for me in return. We both get the job, my friend gets the job and I don’t, I get the job but my friend doesn’t, neither of us gets the job. What is the end result of all of this? Would I help them, or others again if I get my fingers burnt?

Game Theory is very helpful to keep in mind as I am naturally a little too trusting. Keeping this idea in my head will keep fresh, that people are out for them selves and that you cannot assume that they have the same intentions/desired outcomes as you.

Obviously the potential scenarios are almost limitless, each one would change the probable outcomes so this limits, in part, the usefulness of this concept, but still the theory is an interesting one to keep in mind, and a large wake up call as to the self benefiting motivations that drive people (combined with the lack of wanting the other to benefit if you are not).

The Tit for Tat theory, the idea of repayment in kind or of equivalent retaliation, does not factor in alliances, friendships and is not as effective against groups. So the concept of using this, if they are nice I’ll be nice, and visa versa idea, does not work in anything other than the theoretical world.

It does however raise some very interesting ideas.

The first of these is Reciprocal altruism. This is a behaviour whereby an organism acts in a manner that temporarily reduces its fitness while increasing another organism's fitness, with the expectation that the other organism will act in a similar manner at a later time. The concept was initially developed by Robert Trivers to explain the evolution of cooperation as instances of mutually altruistic acts.

I don’t like the idea of only doing something with the expectation that the favour must be returned.

I would much prefer to deal/network with people who were superrational. The concept of superrationality (or renormalized rationality) was coined by Douglas Hofstadter, in his article series and book "Metamagical Themas". Superrationality is a type of rational decision making which is different than the usual game-theoretic one, since a superrational player playing against a superrational opponent in a prisoner's dilemma will cooperate while a game-theoretically rational player will defect.

This means that we would both have the others best interest at heart which is the value of carefully selecting your joint venture partners. As a result you would be much more effective together as you would not be having to look over your shoulder to check that the other is doing as he should.

What have I learned from the above? Many people are out for themselves, which is OK as long as you bare this in mind. I can use these lessons to more thoroughly vet my potential partners and finally that things are potentially much easier, you are much more powerful, when in a group.

CONCEPT – AFFILIATION

The affiliation section was very interesting as it raised more questions for me than it answered.

I found the concept that different people require different levels of need for affiliation fascinating. It goes some way to explain why some people appear to have the need to know and be friends with everyone whilst others are content with a more compact network. It also helps me understand that these people are not using this mass of contacts anymore than a person with a small group. They merely have an instinctive need for greater levels (in this case numbers rather than strength of relationships) of affiliation. They are not false, users or bad people they simply are wired differently towards feelings of connection.

It talks, in Reader3, of growing our professional network sideways (to others of an equivalent level) and upwards into the established hierarchy. My experience has been that those sideways of me offer support and to an extent also teaching, whilst those contacts upwards of me are for advancement/job opportunities. Are these upward associations (with the exception of some genuine contacts) a little more false and merely relationships of convenience. Are sideways contacts more likely to be genuine, stronger bonded relationships. Is it Quality or Quantity of contacts that is most important. Is there an element of having to sell yourself out to an extent to increase the chances of career advancement. Unless you are lucky enough to have a genuine contact that is upwards of you or a current sideways contact that gets a step up to upwards of you to who is then able to help.

People naturally hunger for affiliation. I do not think that many would dispute the huge benefits a healthy supportive network of people around you brings. However we are discussing Professional Networks here. I do not think that affiliation is as important in this area as it is in your personal network.

I really struggle with “playing the game”. It feels like I am compromising my integrity. Unless, as I said above, you are lucky enough to have a true relationship as an upwards contact, do you have to pander to upwards people in the hope that either now or in the future this could be of benefit to you?

If affiliations were “a network of support that will help us when we are in need” (Crisp & Turner 2007 pp266), then would these upward contacts really help us? What is in it for them, if they are truly upwards of your current position?

If nothing else I now have a greater understanding and therefore a new tolerance of those Professional networking beavers that strive to amass huge numbers of contacts for their professional gain.

CONCEPT - SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM

“all knowledge, and therefore all meaning…is…constricted in and out of interaction between human beings and their world” (Crotty, M 2005).

Having finished the last section of this module not that long ago this of course instantly made me think of the need to notice that you are having an experience to have any chance of turning it into knowledge through the process of critical reflection (learning).

Constructionism brings together objectivity and subjectivity. (Humphrey 1993) explains that before we were around on the planet all the ‘worldstuff’ was here. It was only named, characterised and feelings about them formed when we arrived. So the stuff that existed before we were aware of it is fact, objective. The subjective or opinions only came to pass only once we arrived and began having classifying and attempting to understand our surroundings.

“we do not create meaning…we construct meaning” (Crotty, M 2005). When you add this to the above idea of reflecting on the subject and forming an opinion this only tells half the story. It is only as you reflect and, most often, unbeknown to you put your own views onto it that it becomes Constructionism. You cannot help but see things through your own set of experiences (put your own colour on it).

Through writing this I have discovered that I have been looking at certain points through my own learned experiences, resulting in a missed opportunity in my professional networking. If it is us who give our own meaning to the different aspects of our world, we can decide if something is going to be interpreted by us as good or bad. Previously, in the affiliation section, I was discussing how I did not like playing the game, how these advantageous to your career contacts seemed a little false and made me feel like my integrity was being compromised. I now realize that this view was being strongly influenced by my own learned negative social baggage. I can choose to see it this way or I can choose to re frame this opinion. I can reconstruct my views on professional networks to see them as a more positive, helpful and necessary connection.

CONCEPT – CONNECTIVISM

I love the idea of choosing what you learn and the effectiveness in the way that you are choosing to learn within the context of the changing world.  You can have the best information/knowledge in the world at you disposal but unless you make the connection with a way to use/apply it then it is useless. “The value of pattern recognition and connecting our own small worlds of knowledge are apparent in the exponential impact provided to our personal learning”(Siemens, G. 2004). In many industries the person who earns the most money/success is the middleman, the one who puts (connects) two mutually beneficial elements together, an agent, Google or stock broker for instance.

Our networks used to be our Google search and are in some ways now of much less use than the Internet with its speed and wealth of knowledge. However the Internet can never replace the personal one to one advice and living the actual experience. Take an audition as an example. You may be able to find someone’s top audition tips/techniques but it cannot give you the personal and individualized advice, help and support that a colleague within your professional network can provide and visa versa. It also cannot provide you with that reassuring feeling that someone out there cares, and is rooting for you, and will probably call you afterwards to find out how it went. “Amplification of learning, knowledge and understanding through the extension of a personal network is the epitome of Connectivism” (Siemens, G. 2004). How can I apply this principle? By realizing that networks are not just about getting a foot up the ladder, they are about an almost endless source of everything and anything you need or want. Through your connections you become infinitely more than just you on your own.

CONCEPT – COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

This is my personal favourite way of learning. By submerging yourself into an environment you not only learn through association you also have a sense of identity, a shared vision that enhances learning (such as learning Italian by living in Italy rather than in a classroom). I attend many Professional networking events but the ones from which I get the most are the relaxed, informal gatherings for a meal. I love the fact that whatever level you are at you can ‘bring something to the party’ and contribute something to the group as a whole. You form incredibly strong bonds and develop a real sense of belonging, pick up contacts and potential joint venture partners as well as answers to problems you did not know you had yet. When meeting with these same people in a more formal settings (which you could argue are no longer communities of practice as there is now a definite hierarchy) you can gain most of the same advantages but they are more intentionally done rather than a happy byproduct. One of the main benefits that I had not realized until reading through the information was the benefit of identity and standing for something that being part of a group can bring. As an attendee of the above group I gain a huge sense of pride and identity (what I stand for) as well as confidence in the work that I & we are doing.

CONCLUSION

I will definitely explore more my feelings towards the upward contacts and my relationships with them. If I can reset my preconceptions about them being rather disingenuous then it can only help me in my career advancement. I am delighted to have realized that through the less formal (therefore more fun) interactions within our communities of practice I can feel better placed to contribute and take from it a clearer sense of identity in the way I choose to work. I can now ensure that my communities are only those that I am proud to be associated with. With my new understanding of Connectivity I will have my eyes wide open for opportunities as well as feel endlessly resourceful. I hope that through my critical reflection, to continue making connections within my own life that will help me both professionally and personally. Finally I feel that I have more of an understanding of what makes people tick when networking. Most people are out for them selves in any given situation and people naturally have different levels of need for affiliation. This I can use to both tolerate the many frustrating behaviour's often associated with networking as well as realizing the importance of fully trusting, and thereby fully vetting, potential cooperators to ensure we have the same mutually beneficial outcome in mind and the others best interests at heart.

That's it folks. 

Hope you are all doing really well on your own works of art.

I look forward to looking over and commenting on your own take on this task.

On to the next Task. 

Stay safe - Phil