The Art of Building Social Capital
Change excites me. I love the learning and growth it brings. Yet, every time I venture into a new role, hobby, or community, I face the same challenge: a lack in social capital. Social capital refers to the network of relationships and connections that help us navigate our professional and personal lives, essential for achieving success.
Starting over in a new environment means I must prove myself all over again—my worth, intelligence, and capability. It doesn’t matter if it’s even in the same field or organization. When the players change, the need to build relationship begins anew.
As an introvert, I find this challenging. While I push myself to build relationships—many of which grow into deeply appreciated friendships—it’s taxing. I’m naturally more comfortable in learning and creative spaces than in networking and building social capital. However, both are necessary for success.
Paul Jarvis articulates this well in his book, Company of One, where he notes, "Relationships are currency, and social capital is like a bank account. You can only take out what you put in." This analogy holds true across all professional environments.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a coworker, or a boss, the principle remains the same: you must invest in your social capital account before expecting others to ‘buy’ what you’re selling—be it an idea, a product, or yourself.
Building social capital depends on the value you provide to others, whether through assistance, sharing knowledge, or adding value to their life. The fact is, the more you offer, the more others are inclined to reciprocate.
Here are a few effective ways you can build social capital at work:
Offer Help Proactively: When opportunities arise, such as answering a question in an online forum or helping a colleague meet a deadline, offer your assistance. Offering help doesn't have to be grand; sometimes, it’s just about being there, offering to review a document, or sharing your expertise in a specific area.
Share Knowledge Freely: Share your expertise and insights whenever possible. Entrepreneurs might host webinars or write detailed industry guides, while workplace professionals could lead training sessions or simply being available to answer colleagues’ questions in areas where they excel.
Get to Know Others: Take time to learn more about the people around you, beyond professional needs. Ask about their weekend plans, family, or personal interests during meetings or casual interactions. This approach builds deeper connections and shows your appreciation for them as complete individuals.
Network Intentionally: Engage with your network purposefully. Attend events with a plan to add value, seek collaborations, and learn from others. Whether it’s a formal setting or a casual meet-up, make every interaction count.
Be Consistent: Show reliability in your interactions and commitments. Whether you're an entrepreneur or a professional, consistent engagement with your audience or colleagues through regular updates and dependable service builds trust and cements relationships.
Building social capital takes time, but by integrating these strategies in deliberate ways, they can start to become second nature.
Weekly Challenge: This week, I encourage you to focus on one area of relationship-building in your workplace. Whether it’s offering help, sharing knowledge, getting to know someone better, enhancing your networking, or demonstrating consistency, commit to applying this strategy. Commit to applying at least one of these strategies throughout the week.
See how investing in your social capital can not only enrich your relationships but also propel you and your goals forward. Embrace this challenge and watch your workplace dynamics transform!
Best wishes, Lauren