Building Social Capital - Part 1
Building Social Capital. In a rapidly evolving world, the significance of social connections cannot be overstated. Social capital, can be described as the network of relationships we form, to bring immense value to our lives and businesses.
Some of our favourite people with great social capital include:
- Queen Latifah
- Missy Elliot
- Cathy Hughes
- Lord Hastings
However, the founder of FP Comms - Nicola Millington often feels that the incongruent chemistry when people see the value in connecting with others, can often feel disingenuous and fake. She shared why she feels this way?
She stated that for over 16 years she has seen the marginalisation of amazing talent, business owners, and entreprenurs ignored, which has manifested in a variety of ways, including:
1. Marginalisation of Talent: Over the years, Nicola has witnessed talented individuals and business owners being overlooked or marginalised in networking circles. This could be due to factors like systemic biases, lack of diversity and inclusion, or the dominance of certain established networks that hinder the recognition and opportunities for underrepresented groups
2. Tokenism and Surface-Level Interest: Nicola has also encountered situations where people showed interest in connecting with her or others from underrepresented backgrounds merely to appear inclusive or fulfill diversity quotas, rather than genuinely valuing their expertise and contributions
3. Lack of Authentic Engagement: If Nicola has experienced interactions where people are not genuinely interested in her perspectives, achievements, or aspirations, it can lead to a feeling of disingenuousness. This can be particularly disheartening when individuals seem more interested in self-promotion or personal gains than building authentic connections
4. Bias and Prejudice
5. Limited Opportunities: In certain industries or networks, there might be limited opportunities for underrepresented groups, making it challenging for them to break into influential circles or gain visibility for their work
6. Overcoming Stereotypes: People's perception of others can be a dangerous barrier of entry for many business owners
7. Sincere Efforts vs. Performative Actions
Nicola's experiences highlight the importance of addressing systemic issues and fostering authentic, inclusive networking environments. Recognising and valuing the contributions of all individuals, regardless of their background, or gender is essential for creating a more equitable and supportive professional landscape.
One FP Comms' mission is to seek out and provide access to journalists and content creators from diverse backgrounds speaks to their commitment to helping us create positive and honest narratives. But, provide a space for business owners and entrepreneurs to florish and feel secure in communicating their story.
So what is Social Capital?
Social capital encompasses the relationships we cultivate, the trust we build, and the support we receive from our network. It's not just about the number of connections we have, but the quality and depth of those connections. Investing time and effort in nurturing these bonds can lead to remarkable opportunities and advantages.
In 'Building Social Capital Part 2' we focus on how to build and maintain it?
