The Importance of Staying Informed and Maintaining Your Social Network

Your social network is alive. It’s constantly changing, just like you and your life. People come and go, circumstances change, and relationships deepen or fade. For professionals who mentor others, it’s essential to understand that a network is a living entity that requires ongoing attention and maintenance.

Why Your Social Network Deserves Attention

Friendships, romantic relationships, coworkers, neighbors, or workout buddies—they’re all part of your social network. They form the foundation on which you build your life. But nothing stays the same. Whether it’s a move, a new job, an illness, or a period of personal growth, your network changes along with you every step of the way.

Many people don’t think about this until something significant happens. But by regularly taking a conscious look at their network, they can keep track of who truly supports them and who might be less helpful. This is an important task for coaches and professionals.

At a time when loneliness is on the rise, pressure on the healthcare system is increasing, and social participation is becoming increasingly important, a well-maintained social network can make all the difference.

A Personal Story: Insights into My Network

From an early age, I was a social person. I made friends easily, found people interesting, and loved meeting new people. Within that wide circle of friends, I had a few deeper, loyal relationships.

Until I was 22. A serious skiing accident changed everything. It left me with a long-term, severe limitation in my energy levels. I had to give up my job, I could no longer play sports, and many of my plans were put on hold. And my social life? It pretty much came to a standstill.

That period gave me three important insights:

1. Many people quietly faded from my life when I was no longer able to take the initiative myself.

2. A small, loving core remained that stood by my side.

3. I had to rediscover for myself what was important to me—in my work, my free time, and my social circle.

It was a seven-year journey, during which I constantly sought space: within myself (what am I still capable of?), in my character (how do I stay true to myself?), and in my surroundings (on whom do I focus my energy?).

A significant moment was my wedding. I decided to use the celebration as both a closing chapter and a new beginning. I invited hundreds of people, but made a promise to myself: over the coming year, I would only reach out to people who reached out to me. I wanted to continue building relationships with them. It gave me peace and clarity—and above all, insight into who my true supporters were.

MLM-tool : Like an APK for Your Social Network

That experience changed my perspective on social networks forever. I discovered that my network is constantly evolving, and that ongoing insight and maintenance are crucial.

It’s just like with your car: every so often, it needs to go in for a safety inspection. Not because you expect any immediate problems, but to ensure you continue to drive safely and smoothly. It’s the same with your social network. Taking a moment to pause and assess who’s close to you and who’s a little further away gives you the chance to make conscious choices.

The “ MLM-tool ” was developed for this purpose. While I had to figure this out for myself through trial and error, professionals can now help people gain that insight more quickly. With the “ MLM-tool ,” you can literally map out the network. It reveals who is close to you, who offers support, and which contacts might deserve extra attention.

For professionals, this means more than just insight for the client:

• You'll get a concrete starting point for discussion and guidance.

• You'll save time because the network is immediately visible.

• You strengthen people's self-reliance and resilience by helping them become aware of their own supporters.

Dunbar’s Number: Why Your Supporters Are More Important Than You Think

Scientific research underscores this importance. British anthropologist Robin Dunbar demonstrated that our brains can maintain only a limited number of meaningful relationships. That number is around 150, but the close-knit group of true supporters is much smaller—often no more than 5 to 15 people.

It is precisely that small circle that deserves our attention. These are the people who support us in times of adversity, who share in our joy, and who enrich our lives.

As a professional, you can help clients gain this insight before a crisis arises. Just imagine: someone only discovers who their true supporters are after experiencing burnout or a loss. Wouldn’t you rather help them gain that insight sooner?

How Professionals Can Provide Ongoing Guidance and Support

As a professional, you can play a key role in this. By guiding clients, patients, or participants through the “ MLM-tool,” you offer them a comprehensive checkup for their network. You help them discover who their supporters are, where they draw energy from, and where there is room to strengthen relationships.

This gives people greater resilience, a stronger sense of connection, and more direction. And for you as a professional, it means you’re working with a proven methodology that fits within a broad social framework: from well-being and care to reintegration and coaching.

Our experience from training sessions and group sessions shows that participants take action right away: more than half take a concrete step within their network within a week. That is exactly what makes the difference between talking about support and actually putting it into action.

Invitation: Become a " MLM-Coach " and strengthen social networks

Throughout our lives, we benefit from learning to engage actively in our social network—with awareness and attention. As a MLM-Coach , you make that possible.

In our “ MLM-training ,” you’ll learn how to use the tool, guide people in making choices within their network, and help them recognize and appreciate their supporters. You’ll gain practical methods, insight into theories such as Dunbar’s number, and concrete tools to support people in the long term.

What about you?

How consciously do you manage your own social network?
Who are your supporters—the people who are truly there for you?
And how do you engage with your network—are you the active connector, or do you take a backseat?

Take a moment to reflect on this. Because gaining lasting insight into and maintaining your network is not a luxury, but a necessity for life. It provides strength, resilience, and a sense of connection.

As a professional, would you like to discover how you can offer this insight to others? Join our MLM-training and learn to work with the “ MLM-tool.” Together, we’ll ensure that everyone can take a moment to reflect on their network at least once in their life—and draw on the strength that’s already there.

Would you like to learn more about the MLM-tool? You can! Come to our introductory mornings. Of course, you can also call 06-302 59 570 (Angelique). If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll call you back. 

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