Scott DeGraffenreid, the foremost scholar in the area of Social Network Architecting, has spoken widely on how to keep one's network open. Closed networks are found all over in society. A family can be a closed network, where no one shares with a family member about anyone outside the family. A church or synagogue can also be a typical closed network. The networking here takes the form of only doing and/or referring business within that group.
Closed networking is a natural phenomenon. We want to feel comfortable and deal only with people we know. The danger here is that in the closed network, incestuous relationships are often fostered, and no new information, no new blood, is introduced and the network becomes stagnant, its gene pool becomes very shallow. With an open network, people bring in new life. I may have two completely separate networks for which I'm the hub, introducing members of each network to members of the other.
Open networking takes practice and patience. When I'm introducing people from my network of Tibetan Buddhist friends to members of my LinkedIn network, or IBI network, there can be sparks. They speak different business and networking languages, but it all works out. Expanding my network by joining others' networks allows for the members of my current networks to access each other. Everybody wins.
While Scott has not yet published his book about Open Networking, he has published a book on the
NUDE Model, which details how to build a referral business through four metrics: Novelty, Utility, Dependability, Economy.