Davey, L. (2016, September). Everyone’s network should provide two things. Harvard
Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2016/09/everyones-network-should-
provide-two-things.
To have an effective network, it should provide two different types of support: instrumental and psychosocial. Instrumental support are the ideas, the advice, and other types of assistance that contacts can offer during one’s career. This can still be provided by weak, latent ties, connections that were made long ago, as they offer the opportunity to gain access to new, novel information from disparate industries or roles. Psychosocial support is that which can help provide guidance about navigating a challenging political work scenario, or discussing how to balance family and work life. This type of support requires relationship and trust building, which takes time. Instrumental support can help you advance in your career, psychosocial support can help you thrive. Ensuring that you make connections, put some time in, and speak up when in need of assistance will help make use of a good network.
I appreciated this article because it elevates the need for individuals to solicit and value professional and personal support as it relates to their career. There are certain support mechanisms that organizations can provide, and others that we must find on our own. HBR’s attention to these differing networks helps me to prioritize both for myself, and to encourage others to build them, as well.
LO6: create and deliver elegant messages appropriate to audience, purpose, and context.
Comments