Presentation by Mike Dulworth of Executive Networks at the Activate Networks Summit 2012. The Activate Networks Summit (www.ActivateNetworks.net) is the leading conference on harnessing the power of your customer and employee networks to drive results. In 2012, we are bringing together the leading minds on the application of social networks to focus on the most important issues facing CEOs, marketers, and human resource professionals. The Activate Networks Summit 2012 took place on Tue. May 8, 2012 in Cambridge, Mass.

1. Michael Dulworth, President & CEO
Executive Networks, Inc.
Activate Networks Summit
May 8, 2012
Boston, MA

2. Executive Networks, Inc.
• Founded in 2007; based in San Francisco, CA
• Mission: To create, manage and facilitate the best peer
executive networks in the world
• Focus on Global 2000 companies
• 16 networks -- 15 for HR executives, 1 IT network
• 500+ executives from 250+ G1000 companies
• 25 FTE’s; 25+ contractors

3. The Network Roundtable
• Founded by Rob Cross 10 years ago
• “A network for people into networks”
• JV Partnership Between Activate Networks and Executive
Networks
• First meeting in Washington D.C. October 24-25
• Interest Groups
– Leadership (CCL)
– Innovation
– Social Media
– Government

4. My Premise
• The Connect Effect is the positive outcome derived from
investing in your network
• As your network grows and improves, The Connect Effect
increases
• The Connect Effect is exponential in nature, not linear (1 + 1
= 4!)
• IQ + EIQ + NQ = Success
)
(The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional and Virtual Networks, Berrett-Kohler 2008

5. A recent study of global leaders by the Corporate Leadership
Council found that:
“Networks can provide global leaders with the best market
and organization information, but global leaders struggle
to build these networks”.
“Global leaders who are connected to networks with deep
organization and market experience have the best
access to the information they need to be Great Global
Leaders.”
“Actively managing the transition of networks to global
leaders is 3.5 times more effective at connecting them to
the right peers and colleagues, compared to supporting
leaders as they independently build their own networks.”
(© 2011 CLC HUMAN RESOURCES -- www.clc.executiveboard.com)

6. Rob Cross, a professor at the University of Virginia and the author of The Hidden
Power of Social Networks, has found that creating, managing and leveraging
diverse internal and external networks is a key trait of high-potential
executives.
“We characterize three important features of high performers’ networks.
• The first is structural: high performers have a greater tendency to
position themselves at key points in a network, and they leverage the
network around them better when implementing plans.
• The second is relational: high performers tend to invest in relationships
that extend their expertise and help them avoid learning biases and
career traps.
• The third is behavioral: high performers value networks and engage in
behaviors that lead to high-quality relationships—not just big networks.
“Our research shows that people who do well on these three dimensions –
structural, relational and behavioral – are more likely to be successful than those
who pay little or no heed to their networks.”
(HBR, July – August 2011; Organizational Dynamics, Vol 37, Issue 2, April – June 2008)

7. Executive Networks has developed a unique network operating model
that offers executives high value for time
Steering Business
Committee Management
Technology Platform
Profiles OPN Analytics
Collabor-
Database ation
Tools
Access &
Knowledge
Community Connections
•Executive Directors Directors
•Academics in Residence Network
Members Tele-
Virtual confer-
Meetings ences
Live Resources
Meetings Discussion Value Prop
Mentor- SMEs Member Connect-
Management Management Data ivity
ing Projects
Mining

8. Peer Networking Outcomes:
•Accelerate Innovation
•Stay Current and Avoid Pitfalls
•You to the Power of 50 (y50)
•Reduce Costs/Improve Productivity
•Improve Individual Effectiveness
•Advance Your Field

9. Effective Networking – Top 10 List
10. Build your personal brand.
9. Diversity, Diversity, Diversity! The more, the better.
8. Go for quality over quantity.
7. Be interested in people and ask them a lot of questions. Networks
are built through personal connections, and you never know
how you might connect with someone.
6. Play “One Degree of Separation” to see who you might include in
your network.
5. Map your current network. It’s probably better than you think.
4. Get organized—in whatever way works best for you.
3. Build a PBOD (Personal Board of Directors)
2. Help others in your network, first and foremost.
1. Keep networking at the top of your priority list, every day.
(The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional and Virtual Networks, Berrett-Kohler 2008)
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