Why Business Networking Works

Those of us involved in business networking have long accepted that the best way to generate new business is to help others. So much so that it has become one of those mantras that is repeated so often that we tend to forget what it really means.
Now we have scientific proof. Researchers at the University of California have found that the old adage that one good deed deserves another more than holds true. Professor James Fowler said, “When people benefit from kindness they “pay it forward” by helping others who were not originally involved, and this creates a cascade of co-operation that influences dozens more in a social network.”
Interestingly the study finds that, “Interacting with others in large populations without structure greatly reduces the likelihood of cooperation, but in a fixed social network cooperation can evolve as a consequence of repeated interactions. “ This, in my view, goes a long way to explaining the success of structured, membership based, business networking groups, as opposed to looser networking events, even though these may attract greater numbers of participants.
So, we finally have a scientific basis for arguing that successful business networking depends on helping others first.
If you find this an attractive idea and would like to see business networking in action you can either visit www.bforbsouthwest.co.uk or call Rodger Scott on 07710 617751.
If you would like to see the full report, entitled “Cooperative behaviour cascades in human social networks” and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, click here.

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