3.5. ENG Implementing 4 Real-life Activity NEW

In this sub-chapter, we covered two principles for implementing ideas: implementation instrumentality and networking ability. In this activity, we will practice the networking ability. Here’s a quick recap about networking ability:

‘Networking ability, or the skill to establish and nurture professional relationships, plays a pivotal role in facilitating the practical execution of creative ideas by leveraging the social resources available within an organization.’

The goal is for you to map your networks of people and think about the support you could get from them for implementing ideas. Here are some more concrete steps for this activity:

• Map your contacts: imagine that you have an idea for a business or service. Make a list of five people who could help you evolve and implement this idea. For example, some people can help you by giving feedback, others can help you to establish connections with organizations, etc.
• Increase your networking ability: Reach out to at least one of the five people and ask them to recommend someone else you could meet with. Ideally, the person you contacted already knows something about your professional/personal interests, so they’ll be able to recommend someone relevant. For example, if you are a designer, the person might recommend you to meet some other designer in the field.
• Send a message to this new person: here is where your network grows, by exchanging messages with this new contact and maybe even meeting for coffee. If you don’t know what to say, you can use or adapt the message below:

‘Hey, I’m taking an online course in Radical Creativity and got a task to expand my network for implementing ideas in the future. [Person] recommended that I meet with you. Would you have time for a meeting?’

• After you’ve sent the message, write about the experience. Did the person reply? Did you feel nervous or uncomfortable meeting someone new? Do you feel that this person you have reached out to could help you in some future projects?

Write a max. 200 word description of your experience with the real-life activity.