Ensuring a Diverse Network

A Network in organic and ongoing, you need to invite members on a regular basis and rather than populate your network with like minded people avoid Mr and Mrs Average. Invite people who are from fields of sectors which radically differ from existing members, encourage innovators who develop new thoughts. There are some key points to enable a strong diverse network:

1. With a mission statement, to sum up the reason for your networks existence. 
2. List the fields related to this issue that you would like to address.
3. Use this list to identify the type of people you want to approach.
4. Exclude friends as they tend to have similar opinions to you, use them to identify friends of friends and develop your weak-ties.
5. Once the initial membership has been created, create online profiles to establish what you are and what you are after.
6. Include examples of what you are after linking this to special-interest groups.
7. Visit bars, clubs, stores, streets and neighbourhoods. Hand out flyers containing details of your network and its mission.
8. Create an ideal list, to explain what it takes to be a network member and why you are collaborating with these different people.
9. 
   
10. Recrute members you are keen to attract, give an attractive tittle with positive characteristics so that people are keen to exhibit. Like when recruiting for a job, make them feel proud that they have these.
11. Avoid alienating phrases that suggest you are being judgemental towards the differences you are trying to nurture.
12. Be collaborative and constant in your communication with your network, speaking to them on a regular basis and that all network discoveries are shared equally, fairly and with enthusiasm. 

Raymond Martin, 2010. Trend Forecaster's Handbook. Edition. Laurence King Publishers.