How Can Leaders Find Their Best Champion Connectors?

I’ve spent the last 25 years working with some of the most fascinating people on the planet. Almost all are champion connectors. So how do you find champion connectors? How can you empower and engage your network to change the world?

My clients and business partners are some of the most influential people in their communities. They play an active role in almost every aspect of life as we know it. So how do you build an extraordinary network? A network that you can support and that helps champion you to the people they know?

It all starts with the individual, not the organization. Your best champion connector is the person who you know, connect with, and have a strong relationship with. Well known people are very good at deciding who they invest their time with. If you want to build a stronger network of champion connectors, you must figure out what they need and then help give it to them.

As my friend Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Zig’s emphasis, not mine, But I would agree. The more you can focus on their agenda, the faster you can build a powerful shared agenda. But is this enough?

The best champion connectors on the planet are very clear about the people they connect with.They have a strong network of champion connectors both inside and outside their organizations. These connectors are people they can call on when they need to reach out and get things done. This group shares one trait in common; a bias toward action. They also make sure that the people in their networks have a similar bias.

These champion connectors treat everyone in a very similar way. They treat them the way they want to be treated. They treat every person who is in their inner circle as a valuable resource and client. All of them are unafraid of sharing a name to help people accelerate their learning curve.

One of my champion connectors calls me on a regular basis to give advice to his clients’ children. The challenge is he follows up within 48 hours to make sure I made the initial call. That may seem like overkill, but this is why I don’t mind it. When I need something for a client, he provides the same sense of urgency with them. I believe it’s why we have so many successful clients.

Champion connectors may have large egos. Most are very capable of blowing you off if you present an idea that they think is a time waster for them. When dealing with champion connectors, you must ask for their help rather than pitching them directly. Asking for a favor is a normal way of living for many of these champion connectors. They love to share their thinking with people who understand this about them.

Champion connectors know if you want to make a big splash, you need a big rock. Simple advice from the first champion connector I met with. He taught me that if I wanted to serve others I would be better having fewer people in my champion connector network than more. He also taught me that sharing bigger ideas increases the size and velocity of my network faster. He warned me that you only get so many chances to make a first impression.

So now you know about champion connectors and who they are. Want to learn more about how champion connectors get the most out of attending conferences?  You might enjoy our sister blog this week  Three Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Conferences!

Next week, we share several strategies to open the doors to your best champion connectors. See you then.

Original article published on Developing Serving Leaders