Are You ‘Power Hungry’ Or A ‘Peace Builder’?

Many of you may belong to a social networking niche based on professional affiliation. You interact both online and offline, you exchange best practices, you develop relationships and over time you find yourself in a tightly woven group.  

Then you join another social network which has little association with the first. It contains different members, has a unique perspective and perhaps fulfills a different need in the market. You come to depend on this network as well and see value in both, eventually wanting to build a bridge between the two.

Hmm…. this seems like a good idea, but is it? 

According to Dr. Yuval Kalish, research consultant and lecturer for Tel Aviv University who focuses on applied social network analysis:

“If you’re at the intersection of two previously unconnected niches of a network, you’re occupying what I call a ‘structural hole,’” says Dr. Kalish. “While it’s been reported that people who occupy these ‘structural holes’ become more successful, some structural holes may be ‘social potholes’ that can harm you and your business.” (Quotes from Scientific Blogging)

His recent study in the Asian Journal of Social Psychology suggests that there are two very different personality types who work the structural landfill:

1. “Power hungry” entrepreneurs: This person attempts to intersect information flow, control benefits and accrue personal power. And in order to maintain such power, they ”will attempt to keep their network partners from directly interacting with each other”. Research suggests these “are independent individuals who believe in their ability to control the social world, and may also be more prone to stress and anxiety”.
2. “Peace builders”: As the name suggests, this individual is focused on closing the structural hole “by [using] his or her skills to introduce unconnected individuals to each other, or to resolve conflict between rivals.” This focus on collective gain even has a cool term - tertius iungens (‘the third who connects’).

According to Dr. Kalish, serving as the proxy – regardless of your motivation – may not be such a good idea:

“Ongoing research shows that occupying a structural hole, even by the well-intentioned, is associated with short-term gains and long-term costs.”

So don’t do anything?

“One needs to stop and think first,” Dr. Kalish warns. “Why is that network linkage not formed yet? Is there intergroup animosity or conflict involved? If not, and the hole is there simply because of an oversight, go and plug it.”

Dr. Kalish suggests that if you do decide to occupy a structural hole, you need to get in quickly and get out “as soon as others start joining” in order to stay above ground and out of the fray. The good doctor’s bottom line – wield your networking shovels lightly or be prepared to possibly suffer unintended consequences.

So are you power hungry or a peace builder? Share all the “dirt” you can and let’s keep the conversation going.