What’s your value? That’s social capital.

We (should) all know by now that value is only half the equation for a successful career. The other half? Visibility. If the people in your orbit don’t know what you bring to the table, they probably won’t invite you to sit at it. 

Every interaction offers an opportunity to shine a light on your unique mix of experience, superpowers and perspectives – from your professional elevator pitch to progress updates and one-on-ones. But your reputation is made up far more than what you say about yourself – it’s what others say (or think) about you when you’re not there. 

Capitalising on social connections

Social capital is one of the few terms that (thankfully) means exactly what it says.

Social: Relationships and interactions.

Capital: The value created by them. 

Social capital, by definition, doesn’t exist in isolation – it’s the value and trust created by positive connections between people. Yours is derived through your relationships; the more trust and value you create, the more doors will open.

Rapid fire reputation

We live in a noisy world, and our brains make shortcuts to simplify the information avalanche. This leads to rapid reputational analysis – distilling whole people down into a couple of key points. For example, when we list these three famous figures, what immediately pops into mind?

Princess Diana
Albert Einstein
Britney Spears

All these people are complex and nuanced, but we don’t have room in our brains to remember every detail. So, we fall back on an overall perception. This is especially true for celebs and ‘weak ties’ (aka our acquaintances or wider network).

The fact is you put people in boxes, and they do the same to you. However, the box they put you in might be cardboard or crystal, depending on how much social capital you have to pay for it.

Interaction-rich, transaction-free

Every interaction you have either builds or diminishes your social capital. For example: 

Make an effort to connect two strangers who share interests or industries. You’re connecting the dots to potential opportunities, delivering a well-deserved social capital spruce up.

Cancel a meeting twice in a row (or not show up)? You’re cancelling any trust you’ve built around respecting people’s time – and cancelling some social capital.

Share an article with someone on a topic they care about. You’re sharing your willingness to invest in their career while investing in your social capital.

Notice how none of these examples were transactional? Social capital isn’t about swapping favours but building trust and value through relationships.

The three types of social capital

A few weeks ago, we discussed influence and how bad most of us are at it. That’s because we tend to resort to transactional thinking – swapping immediate value (like money for concert tickets). Instead, we should focus on building social capital – win-win relationships that make your network more valuable than the sum of its parts.

People with high social capital don’t need to ask for concert tickets; they’re offered to them. So, if you want to experience the true powr of networks, here are three ways to create trust and value:

Bonding social capital: 

Think of strong, close-knit ties with colleagues – high-trust relationships that deliver the security, belonging, and emotional support that help make your job meaningful. Build social capital by:

• Offering unprompted practical support like skill sharing, introductions and job recommendations.
• Participating in rituals like weekly team calls, daily Wordles and birthday cakes.
• Practising active listening in conversations (and removing distractions so you’re 100% engaged).
• Creating a safe space to share mistakes and failures without judgment.
• Making sure all voices are valued during meetings (calling on people, redirecting if someone is interrupted, attributing ideas).
• Team building activities – even on a shoestring budget!
• Publicly celebrating success and highlighting great work.
• Creating a formal peer group to connect regularly.

Bridging social capital

Think about the weaker ties in your wider personal and professional networks. These people aren’t in your inner circle; they’re the people you bump into, connect with via LinkedIn posts, or occasionally work with. Social capital in these relationships comes from innovation, knowledge sharing, job opportunities and connection. You can build it by:

• Creating (or putting your hand up for) cross-functional opportunities to work with other teams.
• Job shadowing to learn different roles.
• Hosting lunch and learns – they don’t have to be fancy!
• Liking, commenting on and sharing LinkedIn posts – everyone appreciates a little public support.
• Introducing people in your network – if they share an industry or interest, they’d probably like to meet!
• Sharing articles, podcasts, events and opportunities with people who’d benefit.
• Actively ensuring you have a diverse and inclusive network.
• Making time for internal networking (think 15-minute virtual coffees).

Linking social capital

Your relationships with influential institutions and people (aka vertical ties) deliver valuable access and opportunities. While some of this social capital comes hand-in-hand with a job title (e.g. presidents, celebrities and religious leaders), we can all build it through:

• Internships, mentorship and sponsorships – they don’t have to be formal!
• Get (or give) exposure to higher-level decision-makers within your industry or organisation – through events, connections or opportunities.
• Participate in organisation ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) that connect underrepresented groups to senior leaders – e.g. Women and Rainbow groups.
• Put your hand up for board observer and advisory roles.
• Support professional development programmes.
• Identifying your strategic yeses.

Consistency is queen

Social capital is give and take. It’s not about keeping an itemised list of value exchanges, and you certainly don’t need to keep the score. This isn’t transactional; it’s the deeper reciprocal value created through your relationships. 

Remember how we said no one’s paying close attention to the nuances of who you are? That’s why consistency is important. Your interactions should be consistent with the reputation you want to build so your name stays top-of-mind when an opportunity does arise.