Do Not Network Like Ty Cobb

If you are out of work and looking for help from those around you (and those who know those around you), here’s one little piece of advice:

Don’t Network like Ty Cobb.

If you go to the The Official Website of Ty Cobb, you’ll find the following quote:

“The base
paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went
into a bag full of speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the
baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his own
fault.”

Now, I’m not here to disparage Ty Cobb.  He is, one of the greatest baseball players of all time.  But he wasn’t a particularly lovely fellow.  A few years ago, I read a biography by Charles C. Alexander called “Ty Cobb“.  I loved reading about the older game because there was a grit and toughness required to play the game back then – characteristics that were not rewarded with big salaries (even for the best in the game).  In some ways, he was rewarded as the hard play of Mr. Cobb gained him hard fought respect (and fear).

Quick Tip:  Networking is not about grit and toughness – it’s a bit more warm and friendly.  In fact, in networking, there are no official rules – you are how you act and you get what you give.

But if you need a few basic rules to give you some guard rails to stay within, here goes:

1. Do unto others. Even if unemployed right now, you can still be of help to someone.  Job search is not a selfish endeavor.  In fact, the best leads I gave and received during my search were with people competing for the same type of jobs.
2. Make it your life’s work. If you joined a networking group during your job search and found your job, keep in touch with the group and make an effort to help out.  You will make many lifelong friends out of folks who might have just become 3 month acquaintances.
3. Say thanks. Actually it’s more than that.  It includes saying thank you, of course, which many people forget to do.  It also says to make symbolic gestures like buying the coffee or the lunch if you gained more from the conversation than did your partner.
4. Respect your network. Don’t overuse use them or abuse them.  Don’t send the e-mail address of someone who helped you to 15 other people.  And don’t, please don’t, pretend that your relationship with them is deeper or stronger than reality. Read this.
5. Throw a wide net. Don’t just network with the people close to you.  Of course they are great because you can use them more aggressively.  What you really want is to network with people who can do the most for you (have strong networks around them).  A good example is employed people.  It is easy to hang out too much with people you’ve met who are also looking.

Now, there are clearly many more rules to this game of networking.  But if you follow these as well as your good common sense, you will find doors opening for you again and again.

What are your rules for networking?

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