One of my favorite things to do is to put people and ideas together. Cool things emerge nearly every time. Ideas are shaped and transformed, positive energy flows, and relationships deepen. It can feel like “magic.” When it happens in your presence, it is an amazing, almost indescribable experience.  Perhaps this is why I am such a big advocate of networking. It is one of the professional activities in which you can freely exchange ideas with others, helping yourself and others at the same time.

I recently had one of these “magical” experiences in a four-way networking lunch prompted by my friend and fellow thought-leader, Lana Crowder. She shared so many cool ideas. I took copious notes, and I also invited her to be a guest contributor on my blog. True to her leadership spirit, she took me up on my offer.

Please enjoy Lana’s reflections on how networking and exchanging ideas with others through the networking process sharpens her skills, clarifies her thoughts and motivates her.

“Recently I had the good fortune to lunch with three bright, inspiring professionals.  The objective of our luncheon was to network the three business-owners and since I am the common-relationship, I had the pleasure of participating.

The time with them was truly a gift.  One of the three is just in the early phases of realizing her dream of business ownership, while the other two have successfully grown their businesses over the course of several years.  They shared tactical and strategic tips; they encouraged her, and I am certain I saw wheels turning in their minds as the conversation led all three to ideas that are sure to seed their next successes.

One of the reasons networking is so important is that it instills in us the energy that can only arise from relativity.

Talking with others, listening actively, and sharing insights… taking an idea that was once dimensionally-flat and breathing life into it.  I call this time with others, my sharpening-stone.  It allows me to not only bring my thoughts to life, but also to clarify my thoughts.”- Lana Crowder

What is a sharpening stone and why do we need one?

Lana’s metaphor of a sharpening stone immediately grabbed my attention and intrigued me. I reflected on the value of a sharpened pencil, a sharp knife, and a sharpened pair of scissors. It’s so much harder to get the work done with dull equipment. The same holds true for people. When we are dulled, our effectiveness is diminished.

A lesson from the Olympics

In the spirit of the Winter Olympics, let’s examine what has to happen to the ice skates of world class Olympic athletes in order to do their magic on the ice.

If you’ve been watching the competition, no doubt you have marveled at the seemingly flawless performance of the skaters, especially the figure skating couples. Their skill, showmanship, and athleticism have been developed over thousands of hours of practice, untold personal sacrifice, and the level of  determination that you and I may never truly understand.

On top of all that, they also have great equipment. Let’s examine just how their skate blades are created and maintained to give them the edge on the ice. Wikipedia offers a good basic explanation as to how those crazy shoes work:

“The bottom of a modern ice skate blade, unlike the blade of a knife, has a crescent-shaped hollow, creating two sharp edges on each skate. Ideally, the two edges of a blade are parallel, but poor maintenance practices, such as improper sharpening or lack of consistent sharpening, can often result in oblique edges. These “bad” edges can affect skating ability significantly. The optimal depth depends on factors such as the skater’s weight, ability, strength, sporting activity, and (for ice hockey) style of play. The skater uses these edges in different combinations in order to maneuver. When ice skates are sharpened, the blade is ground with a stone having a curved surface, and dressed to either restore the hollow or to provide a different radius.”

– Wikipedia

What are your maintenance practices?

You may not be aiming for Olympic Gold, but no doubt you dream of greater success in your career, business, and life. What kind of sharpening do you undertake in your professional field? How about your personal life? And who is responsible for that sharpening? You or your employer? You or your government? You or the economy?

You guessed it – you are responsible. You must cultivate your own sharpening stone so that both your hard skills and your soft skills remain sharp, vibrant, and marketable. Simply living and working day to day is not enough to keep these vital aspects of your professional and personal life sharp. Daily wear and tear without proper maintenance makes you dull over time. Once dull, it’s hard to get your edge back.

Put these ideas into Action

Identify who, what, or where is the source of your sharpening stone. Take an honest review of what aspects of your professional tool bag have become dulled over time. How do you plan to bring greater focus and sharpness to them?

Remember, you don’t need to go it alone. The process of networking and exchanging ideas with other people inside and outside your organization is a great way to generate greater focus, wisdom, and energy. Everyone can sharpen themselves through the act of networking and relationship-building.