Social Capital: The Value of the Connections in Your Life
You might be thinking, “I have enough money to live on and I’m not interested in networking.” Social capital is about more than just networking. Social capital refers to the value of the connections in your life that provide a competitive advantage by giving you access to opportunities, advice, support and feedback that money can’t buy. Social capital also reduces the risk of being left out or not knowing what’s going on with people who are important to you.
Humans learned a long time ago that a group of people will be smarter and stronger than any one individual. Lacking the lion’s strength, the rhino’s protective thick skin, or the cheetah’s speed, we discovered that banding together helped us to fight off predators and hunt animals faster or stronger than us. Social Capital provides access to opportunities by giving you advice from both friends and colleagues - all those connections in your life give value to how much they can do for you because it builds trust which is essential for relationships as well as society at large today.
Social Capital provides a competitive advantage by giving you access to opportunities, advice, support and feedback that money can’t buy. Social capital is built on trust which is essential for relationships as well as society at large today. Build skills: curiosity should be your guide while investing time in building rare and valuable skills in an interesting topic so you have something to offer when connecting with others who share the same interests. With focus, it takes only three months or less to gain useful knowledge or acquire new skills.
It also pays to be nice. It’s not that difficult, and you can do it without sacrificing your boundaries or being a doormat. Social capital is about who we are as people. People will want to help us if they like us—feelings of trust and affection come from the way we treat each other, even in small ways.
Social Capital: The Value of the Connections in Your Life
Know yourself; know what makes you unique
Be useful; give before taking
Be authentic; don’t fake interest or happiness
Build relationships with others by connecting over shared interests–it’s easier than ever! You never know where those connections might lead.
The people you know and the value of those relationships determine your social capital. Social capital provides a competitive advantage by giving you access to opportunities, advice, support, and feedback that money can’t buy.
Social networks are one way we create connections with other humans who share our values or interests. They help us get jobs, find friends and start businesses- all things that make life more enjoyable for ourselves as well as others around us! It’s important to think about where these connections might lead - whether it’s networking at work helping someone else get promoted or being invited onto a board because an acquaintance is on it. Make a list. Be intentional.
Social capital isn’t just about money or connections. Social capital is a multifaceted concept that the people you know and value, your values or interests. They help us get jobs, find friends and start businesses- all things that make life more enjoyable for ourselves as well as others around us! It’s important to think about where these connections might lead - whether it’s networking at work helping someone else get promoted or being invited onto a board because an acquaintance is on it. Make a list of what matters to you: family? faith? hobbies? Be intentional in how you create those long lasting relationships so they can serve your needs now and in the future.