Press Release
9 June 2008

It’s a small world: less than six degrees of separation

AIM’s National Networking Week encourages Australian managers to better understand the business opportunities and interpersonal connections developed through effective networking.

Held in the second week of August each year, National Networking Week is one of the Australian Institute of Management’s high profile promotions.

AIM Qld & NT CEO, Carolyn Barker AM FAIM, said the aim of the week is to connect people and create less than six degrees of separation. There is such a thing as the ‘small world phenomenon’ which states that everyone in the world can be reached through a short chain of social acquaintances.

“A famous American social experiment in the 1960s gave rise to the phrase, ‘six degrees of separation’ which suggested that two random US citizens were, in fact, connected on average by a chain of (just) six acquaintances,” Ms Barker said.

“Our hope is that Australian managers will embrace this concept by supporting National Networking Week and as a reason to enhance their organisation’s networking agenda or to grow their own professional contacts.”

Effective networking is a vital part of achieving business and personal success, yet many people choose to avoid it, or worse still, participate begrudgingly. They may do this because ineffective past experiences have led them to form an inaccurate view of what networking is all about.

AIM’s definition is that networking is connecting with others without the need for immediate gain. It is therefore a proactive investment in the future aimed at building relationships with others well before assistance or support is needed.

“Internationally, there is a trend to include networking, in the form of company sponsored events or even as an individual KPI for company executives. In other words, organisations are taking networking very seriously as a way to expand business” Ms Barker said.

So much so that there are now positions for the Chief Networking Officer (CNO) in enterprises. This title refers to a person who manages the social capital of a company.

The CNO connects people and businesses within the company, with other companies, as well as with consumers, hence facilitating know-how transfer, information flow and in the end sales.

AIM is sponsoring National Networking Week by hosting a series of its own events and seminars around Australia as well as encouraging organisations to hold their own.

To register your event during National Networking Week (4-8 August 2008) and receive a free listing.