“A Practical Guide for Aspiring Super Connectors” by Constance Li

EA Forum Podcast (Curated & popular)

TL;DR: You can create outsized value by introducing the right people at the right time in the right way. This post shares general principles and tips I've found useful.
Once you become a super connector, it's also important to be a good steward of the unavoidable whisper networks that develop, and I include tips for that as well.

Context: I unintentionally fell into a super connector role and wanted to share the lessons I figured out along the way. Feel free to check out my personal story[1] and credentials[2] if you are curious to learn more.

Why Super Connectors Matter

Credit: GPT 4o

In communities like EA, where talented people often work in isolation on high-impact problems, a well-placed introduction or signpost can lead to tremendous impact down the road. Super connectors accelerate access to key information and relationships, which reduces wasted effort and helps triage scarce resources. [...]

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Outline:

(00:44) Why Super Connectors Matter

(01:21) General Principles

(01:25) 1. Know Your North Star

(02:03) 2. Understand People Deeply

(02:26) 3. Never Waste Peoples Time

(03:04) 4. Be Ruthlessly Selective

(03:37) 5. Direct Towards Appropriate Engagement Channels

(04:14) Practical Tips

(05:38) A Note on Whisper Networks

(08:47) Getting Started

The original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:
June 15th, 2025

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/JvFrCTKPdHhejAE2q/a-practical-guide-for-aspiring-super-connectors

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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