What are some common pitfalls or challenges when diversifying your network and how do you overcome them?

Trust can only begin when others don't believe you want something from them. You don't start a relationship or network building from a place of want and expectation. It can only begin when you genuinely are interested in learning about the other person. I recently had an experience with a colleague. I was in her office because we were going to dinner together after work. I noticed the plaque on the chair in her office had her sir name, but I didn't recognize her first name. She explained that the name on the plaque was her legal name and that she didn't use it because people mispronounced it. She taught me about her country and her religion. It was a beautiful experience, and through the open sharing, I felt trust continuing to grow.

And remember to try to add of much value to them as you can. Can you recommend a book, a TedTalk, make an introduction? Then make sure you follow through. This will show that you are there to help and a person of your word.

There are tangential ways to connect with folks, especially if you are not in the same industry. Common interests and geographical proximity seem to help reach across industries. I like to focus on how we can help veterans find work when they leave active duty. It’s about serving others, and that helps to find shared relevance.

Although your background or experience may not have something that can directly be relevant to them, through your existing network you may be able to make an introduction that would lead to something wonderful. Always be listening to see if there is overlap with others in your network.

One thing I've found helpful is to see people in my network as just that, people. There are various ways to relate or be connected with others. Seeking common ground is key. For example, I work closely with entrepreneurs in complimentary fields. We don't have related offerings but we are in the same growth phase of our business which is very relatable. Other similarities could include having shared health views, similar passions or interests, or we may share a unique skill. I have found that some of my most interesting collaborations have come from working with people with seemingly irrelevant connections. It truly takes creativity and flexibility to flush out the opportunities.

Changing up what sorts of networking events you go to can help you with this. Make sure there are hosts from different backgrounds. Also, something like Lunchclub.io is a great way to meet a wide variety of people as it's people from all over the world.

One of the simplest ways to diversify your network is to converse with coworkers different from you. I have found that if you talk to a person long enough, you will find something in common. In the workplace, commonality can be found in the simplest of discussions. For example, I accepted a new role and met with all the team members. I noticed many of them shared their world travels. I told them I also like to travel, and we began to share our travel stories. It allowed me to connect with people from different backgrounds because we found common ground. That experience allowed me to develop a relationship with a colleague who is now part of my network.

Reach out to people every few months with a quick compliment or article or video. It's an easy way to keep adding value and not always be reaching out for help yourself.

I often meet people who tell me that they make amazing connections and attend every event possible, but quantity doesn't necessarily mean quality. When you are struggling to maintain relationships, take some time to reach out to high-value and high quality relationships. Not necessarily the ones you can use, but the ones that fulfill you and make you happy, and help you learn and challenge you at times. I find that it helps to maybe even put a calendar reminder to send a quick message to someone once per month or even once per quarter so they know you are thinking of them, and it may be possible to grab a coffee (virtual or F2F) from there.