Why you should keep your networking circle small

Why you should keep your networking circle smallWhen it comes to your professional network, the mora the merrier, right? After all, more people = more chances for connection, word-of-mouth opportunities, etc. Sounds great in theory, but in reality, it might surprise you to learn that experts are recommending that you scale back your professional network and keep a smaller, more nimble group of people as your inner circle. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Theres some debate over what that number actually isevolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar famously did a study and determined that 150 is the magic number of maintainable social/professional relationships in anyones life. The reality is that theres probably no rigid number for each persons professional network, but your limit should be where you can reasonably maintain a professional relationship with someone.If that sounds counterintuitive to you, here are some of the reasons you should think about downsizing your professional crew.Your network should be carefully curated and tended.The whole point of networking is the relationships. Think back to your kindergarten class. Can you remember the names all 20 or so kids, or do you remember just a small subset of friends or particularly memorable kids? Our brains are conditioned to keep the most important information and discard the rest, and our social relationships tend to follow suit. You want your network to be people who are the most relevant to your professional growth and goalsleid necessarily every person youve met since you were an intern at XYZ Corp.You want to focus on quality, not quantity.Some people in your network are, quite simply, going to be more useful and relevant to you than other people will be. Taking a close look at your network and who still aligns with your current professional self and your hoped-for-future professional self can help you define your goals.Its okay to let people go.An unwieldy network of connections might be a symptom that you have trouble letting go or dont want to risk hurting anyones feelings. Realistically, professional network breakups are easier than other kinds of social pruning. The stakes are low if you stop following someone on Twitter or remove them as a connection on LinkedIn. If you dont find someones insights useful or are not likely to ever have a conversation with them again, why keep them kicking around in the social media ether? You dont need to be obvious or mean about it or make a dramatic announcement about how youre making cuts. Plus, its unlikely your coworker from three jobs ago is likely to send you a devastated whyyyyyyyy? message afterward. Chances are, they were getting about as much out of the relationship as you were.It gives you more bandwidth for long-term professional growth.Limiting your network to a small inner circle lets you put in more time and energy into building those relationshipsemails, occasional hangouts, chec k-ins, etc. Networking isnt just about getting something from others its about building yourself as well and finding your people. You want your interactions with your network to be mutually beneficialnot a chore or a one-way transaction for either of you. If youre hitting up someone in your network only when youre sniffing for an opportunity, then your calls/texts/emails are likely to start going ignored. On the other hand, if you put time into getting to know someone, you both get the benefit of each others expertise and a deeper knowledge of what each person has to offer.When it comes to your network, remember better, not more. Theres no prize for the number of LinkedIn connections, or the most likes on your latest professional rant on social media. You should be surrounded by people who know and support your goals, and vice versanot hundreds of people who sort of know your name from scrolling through a newsfeed. Youll find that your professional lifeand your personal one as wellw ill be all the better for these higher-quality relationships.