Welcome to a Journey with Joyce
Success Wellness Strategy Networking
How are you handling your networks? As social beings we are designed to live, work and socialize in networks of people. One of my favorite authors Stephen Joyce in his book: Teaching the Anthill to Fetch discusses how important it is for us to become adept at harnessing the energy or resources in our networks.
According to Stephen, we use negative assumptions to keep us from engaging more fully in our networks, which in turn prevents us from fully accessing some wonderful possibilities in our lives.
What assumptions do you have about those in your networks? Are they a barrier to you fully engaging and harnessing the energy in your networks? Here are some possible networks most of us have. If you have others, add them below:
- Family
- Work
- Community
- Friends
- Church
All networks have cultural rituals and rules for conformity and perpetuation. Rituals such as assigning status to their members, celebrating their achievements and being hospitable to new members ensures and solidarity. How are you positioned for status and hospitality? Is there some way you can harness more positive energy from your network? Status we are told by Neuroscientist is as important to the brain as basic needs. Because of this physiological response to status, most of us crave positive status and affirmation, some will take life threatening risks to be the best or excel. This helps us understand why we go to such lengths to win, to be right or be viewed as popular or well liked by others.
One sure way to improve your status in your network is to master the art of responsible communication and cultural competency to navigate the different rules of various networks. Learning how to how to navigate within networks is something we need to consciously work to improve as we expand our networks.
Without proper networking skills one can quickly become a social outcast. If you have these struggles, Neuroscience has also revealed that our brains are malleable, meaning that we can change our thoughts, train our minds and learn and develop new skills and reshape our brains at any age. Working with an interpersonal wellness coach will also help you develop a higher level capacity to contribute to the wellness of your relationships.
Reflections
Here is how you can determine whether you are gaining the maximum social revenue from your networks. Ask yourself these questions and if you don’t like the answers, do something about it:
- Are those in my social network willing to share with me?
- Do those in my network know and understand how I can help them?
- Is there something I can do to add value to my network that will bring me joy and great satisfaction to others?
- Am I giving more time, energy and resources to my networks than I receive back in kind, if so, what is my goal and how long can I afford to do this?
- Is there a way that my networks can contribute to my wellness?
- Am I experiencing interpersonal conflicts in any of my current networks?
- Is my participation in this network a positive thing?
- Are those in my social network proud of me and enjoy my company?
So if you are not happy with the answers to the questions above, don’t sulk in silence or blame others. I know what you are thinking, if only that other person wasn’t part of the group. Well let’s see how you can take action
Coaching Actions
Is there one action or skill you need to take or improve to help you better navigate your networks and achieve maximum social revenue? Consider the following action steps:
- Make peace with those in your network – ask for forgiveness or to start over
- Improve your hospitality by inviting people to lunch or to coffee
- Write a short note or send a card to someone in your network letting them know how much you appreciate themimprove ce with those in your network
know what you are thinking, if only that other person wasn’
- Work to improve your responsible communication
- Learn to improve your cultural competency, groups will not conform to you it often requires some personal adjustment to fit in
Remember you are in the driver’s seat of your life, so if you don’t like what’s happening you are the only one who can make the necessary changes. Please check in with me for a free consultation on how you can increase the social revenue of your network of relationships.
I would love to hear how you are building in wellness success plans that mirror your other areas of life success. Share with me on my blog.
Joyce Odidison the world’s leading Interpersonal Wellness expert, speaker, and coach, mentor who works with leaders in organizations and their employees to implement an 8 step strategy to work well, live well and play well, getting them results that last in just 2 to 8 weeks.
Joyce is also the Director of training at IWS Coaching Institute. She is also an Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner and author of the books “Getting Ready for Mediation, 2004 and “Interpersonal Wellness System, 2010.
Joyce works with clients who want to work smarter and live well at every stage of their life success, by aligning their wellness and success, so that they have more of both. She provides her clients and audience with easy to implement strategies and tips to optimize their wellness and success.
Interpersonal Wellness 