5 ways the incredibly well-connected build social capital

5 ways the incredibly well-connected build social capital5 ways the incredibly well-connected build social capitalThink of social capital in the same way you think ofbuilding wealth. It is a form of currency built by making yourself valuable throughcollaboration, cooperation, and bargaining.In astudyby Harvard political scientists, social capital theory is said to hold the power to create a culture of reciprocity, compromise, and equality.Building your social capital extends the value and power behind your network of social contacts. All of which can help you further hone your reputation and get ahead in your career.But what exactly does it look like to build social capital? From practicing the law of reciprocity to staying in touch with friends and family, heres what the most well-connected professionals have already masteredTheyre known as connectorsDo others come to you when theyre looking for a new job, moving to a new city, or just looking for a good restaurant? If this becomes a pattern, take this as a sign that youre a natural connector. The best connectors are comfortable maintaining relationships with seemingly unrelated circles from their old college buddies to work colleagues to a neighborhood running group.Connectors have wide networks that also run deep. And because of ansicht relationships, theyre able to connect their friends, family, and colleagues to resources they need. If youre looking to widen and deepen your network, consider joining a professional club or organization like Harvard Business School Club, Ivy Connect, orBlack Female Foundersto name a few.They volunteerWhen you give your time to organizations who need it, youre bedrngnis just building social capital but good will.Volunteeringfor a causeyou are passionate about feels good and gives you the opportunity to connect with like-minded people who prioritize the wellbeing of their community and their world.If youre not the type to roll up your sleeves atDC Central Kitchenor Habitat for Humanity, plenty of organizations need knowledge workers to donate their writing, communications, and law services pro-bono.They seek out mentors menteesSupport is a beautiful thing. And at some point in your professional career you will either be giving or receiving it.Both a mentor or mentee have the ability to enrich the other. Whether youre in the position to help or you need guidance, you can earn social capital by providingvalue as a mentoror mentee. If youve reached a dead end in your career, a mentor can help take you to the next level. You can also consider it a mark of your own achievement and mature social capital when you give back in the form of mentorship.They stay in touch with those who matterHaving lots of contacts is great. But if you have no idea who these people are or how you met them, youll have no idea how to leverage your network.When you add someone to your phone, make a note of where you met them. LinkedIn also has a great feature that lets you enter note s on how or why you made this connection. If you want to go rogue, create a spreadsheet with their contact info and the details of when and how you met them. If it was at a conference and you discussed their newly-launched business, follow-up on how their business is going. Not only does this show you took the time to listen and have an attention-to-detail, but that you also care about their interests.Use holidays to reach out to those contacts you dont hear from on a regular basis.They practice The Law of ReciprocityPracticing the law of reciprocity is easy. When someone does something nice for you, you do something nice or even more generous in return. Intentions are important when it comes to practicing reciprocity. Helping others with the sole intention of serving your own interests will have an opposite effect on your social capital.Ursula Lauriston is the Editor-in-Chief of Capitol Standard Magazine DCs fastest growing niche brand and lifestyle publication. A dynamic speaker and syndicated columnist, she has been featured in HuffPost, Black Enterprise, The Vault, and more. Find Ursula on Twitter Urdiggy.This article first appeared on Capitol Standard.