Discover how building 150 industry connections can launch your career to new heights!

Robin Dunbar’s Study:

Robin Dunbar, a British anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, proposed Dunbar’s Number, suggesting a cognitive limit to the number of stable social relationships a person can maintain. The commonly cited Dunbar’s Number is around 150, representing a theoretical limit based on cognitive capacity.

Dunbar’s research, drawing from primate social groups and human societies, outlines layers of social relationships:

1. 5 Closest Relationships: Intimate connections, often family or very close friends.
2. 15 Close Friends: A slightly larger circle of close friends.
3. 50 Good Friends: A broader social circle with regular interactions.
4. 150 Acquaintances: The outermost layer includes a wider network with recognized but less frequent interactions.

Mark Granovetter’s Study:

Mark Granovetter, a sociologist, introduced the concept of “weak ties” in a 1973 paper. Granovetter argued that job opportunities often arise through loose acquaintances with fewer mutual connections. He emphasized the value of these weak ties in providing diverse opportunities.

Connecting Dunbar’s Number and Weak Ties for Career Growth:

By considering Dunbar’s cognitive limit of 150, we can strategically apply this principle to our professional network. Viewing the 150 acquaintances as “weak ties” in the same industry or discipline aligns with Granovetter’s theory. Continuous engagement with these weak ties can significantly advance one’s career.

Formula for Strategic Networking:

• Send 1000 connection requests.
• Distribute 20 requests/day.
• Aim for a 15-20% acceptance rate.

Result: Achieving 150 ties within 60 days. Consistent engagement with these weak ties becomes the catalyst for career growth.

This approach capitalizes on both Dunbar’s insights into cognitive limits and Granovetter’s theory on the value of weak ties, creating a strategic and effective networking strategy for career advancement.