I know the importance of building my professional network with smart, leading edge thinkers from my industry. Throughout most of my career I’ve achieved this by attending too-many-to-count in-person meetups and other social events to make new contacts. It’s been a lot of work but I now have a robust group of professional associates whom I can reach out to if I need some consulting help, feedback on an idea, or any of the other benefits of a large group of subject matter experts. And of course, my network is a place where I can help others as well; the goal is to have a mutually beneficial relationship. A professional network is a sort of mastermind group if you will.

Several years ago I integrated my contact list into what I call an “executive ecosystem” where I grow and manage my list of colleagues, now largely with LinkedIn, but also with co-workers and other associates that I’ve met over time, companies, and customers. I keep these names and relevant info in Outlook’s Contacts database so that I can easily find and access someone for a specific role or reason.

My process involves being very careful about whom I invite or accept into my network, for example, accepting those with experience and acumen from my industry or related ones, as I’ve found those contacts work best for me. These individuals are usually also quite well connected, so that when I need a referral for, say, a Salesforce consultant or a sales leader, they almost always deliver several excellent candidates.

And likewise when I am asked for a subject matter expert or a contact to fill a job opportunity, I can provide them with the same level of high performing professionals.

Other areas where we help each other is to “like” and forward our blogs and LinkedIn posts to our respective networks, and generally co-promote each other’s products and services when we see the opportunity.

Corporate Ecosystems

Ecosystems are not just for executives, obviously. Smart companies utilize ecosystems to fill out their workforce with people and companies who have niche expertise. My employer, Kranz Consulting, keeps an entire database on organizations who can provide services of all types in the public and private sector, and it is referred to often.

A recent white paper by Accenture provides an excellent definition:

“What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is the network of cross-industry players who work together to define, build, and execute market-creating customer and consumer solutions. An ecosystem is defined by the depth and breadth of potential collaboration among a set of players: each can deliver a piece of the consumer solution, or contribute a necessary capability. The power of the ecosystem is that no single player need own or operate all components of the solution, and that the value the ecosystem generates is larger than the combined value each of the players could contribute individually.”

This same study cites that “while executives believe ecosystems are important, most companies have yet to seize their full potential.” And I agree.

To me, both executive and corporate ecosystems are important. I encourage you to build your own executive ecosystem. And if you think that we can help each other please reach out and let’s connect.