If all roads lead to Rome, then you can start at Rome and connect with the whole world. Connections are what power everything, from the tiniest nano gadgets to the internet of things to travel and transport worldwide. Most important of all, of course, are the connections that create relationships.
Word of mouth, often considered the most cost-effective way to market, starts with connections. It’s human nature to use our connections to make recommendations that will help others discover better products, services, places, and ideas. And people. Because the same is true for making new connections through introductions. One person sees value in bringing two other people together through an introduction, and everyone wins.
Introductions grow and strengthen relationships in business and non-profit organizations. They spark partnerships, connect projects with funding, and enable the conversations that launch new ventures and solve difficult challenges.
Getting personal introductions can be the most powerful way to progress within a community. One way to get such introductions is to find someone who already knows the person you’d like to meet. Of course, you don’t always know who’s who in the community, or what additional connections or power they might have. Chances are good that the same person who knows the people you’re seeking to meet also knows others that would be even more helpful.
The power of personal introductions shouldn’t be limited to newcomers, though. It’s common for a business person to know about someone they would like to meet, but just never figured out how to make that happen. If it has yet to occur by coincidence, it’s probably just not in the cards—unless there’s a new effort to find a connector who can help with the introduction.
So, what’s the key to finding this golden connector in any community? Connections. Start with your existing connections and ask, almost like the evil queen in Snow White, “who’s the most connected of them all?”