Use Your Next Team Meeting to Build Your Entire Company’s Social Capital

Posted on June 28th, 2011 by Keith Ferrazzi

Here at FG and RMA we're always looking for ways to help the team consistently, proactively expand our networks. So at our last all-hands meeting, I introduced a new exercise to build our company’s social capital – one relationship at a time.

Everyone was asked to come to the meeting with the name of one aspirational contact – someone who could make a critical difference to a current work goal.  Each person shared the name of their target, then shared why – what did they hope to learn from the introduction?

The team surprised me with some great names – everyone from key decision makers at potential corporate clients to the Dalai Lama. We all had veto power, if it seemed that the person wasn’t job-relevant or enough of a challenge. For example, one woman said she wanted to get connected to Tony Hsieh of Zappos, but I know him so well already he’s not exactly aspirational – he’s already baked into our network.

Next up, helping each person brainstorm about how to approach their target contact with generosity. Our net result? Within the next few weeks several people are ready to connect with contacts that they thought were way out of reach, and everyone else was further down the path.

There was another win: By the time we had gone around the room in LA, and New York, and even Iowa, we all had a clearer sense of each person’s priorities, which helps guide our generosity toward one another.

So give this a try in your next meeting.  Who's your target and why?

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9 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. For me it wOuld have to be Richard Branson. I have always wondered how recoils go through so many business trials and still come out of them even more optimistic and energetic for other challenges. I guess it his personality. But it would be nice to be meet him just see what his response is.

  2. It would be you Keith. You have been on my list since the first time I read "Never Eat Alone" quite a few years ago. To see what a day in your life would be like would be fascinating (along with exhausting)!

  3. Keith...I hope someday to meet you in person! I enjoyed "Never Eat Alone" thoroughly and even though I have connected with you on Facebook and get your Blog posts, having a face to a name would make another impact.

    Business wise, I hope someday to meet some doctor's that I can make a great impact on. I don't mean just my clients. I want to help them start their practice with a business sense and tools that make them profitable from Day 1 instead of being involved in the cleanup and frustration years later. I know this can be done because I have seen the opposite results for 15yrs! How I am going to accomplish it is my dream that I am working on!

  4. Al Pittampalli says:
    June 28, 2011 at 7:49 am
    Reply

    This is a cool exercise. Anytime a group comes together to imagine possibilities like this, it sets the stage for high quality connections with each other. We need to work to make these types of discussions a ritual.

  5. There are several. That challenge to narrow my field really resonates with me. If I have to focus, I'll say Michael Hyatt. His voice is heard by a large variety of people and he inspires me. Now, I have to think what I could possibly offer to him. Thanks for the challenge.

  6. I want to meet Sheryl Crow, because she's suffered from breast cancer and she understands that a woman is much more than her breasts. I'm creating a non-profit, Juggs4Juggs.org. I'm looking to build my board of directors and want women and men who can touch many through song, dance, art, business and entertainment. I'd appreciate a "warm" intro if anyone can help me further my cause:-) The concept behind Juggs4Juggs; we decorate milk carton jugs (1 gallon) and use to collect donations for individuals who have no medical coverage to pay for breast cancer care:-)

  7. What a great idea. Even if the contact was never made it allows people to generate out of the box thinking which can be contagious. It also helps people to gain perspective of their co-workers. Who someone picks says alot about them, their mindset, how big they think, and how realistic they are, etc.
    I am going to use this activity with my clients; thanks for adding another tool to my toolbox!

  8. Keith, Now that I've read your book "never eat alone" I can say that one of my targets is YOU. Your book was very inspiring. My partner and I have started a company that is based on "Social Capital." Which is becoming sort of a buzz word now.... I would love to hear what your definition of the term is.

    Our definition is: The Collective Value of your Relationships.... Measured by the Effectiveness of those Relationships.

    Have an awesome weekend.
    Kevin.

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