Networking

Not everyone is changing jobs during the mass resignation. Many people are simply considering transitions, and still others are using this window in their career trajectory to evaluate fit and direction. The decision is not binary. You don’t have to either stay or leave. You can do both. The freedom to leave equals the freedom to stay.

Whether it is the 19 year-olds I teach at Elmhurst University or the 40-somethings I coach through their career transitions, the trajectory of careers is driven by connections. You select an academic major when you are barely an adult. You accept a first job in your early 20’s with none of the maturity needed to know whether it fits your strengths, interests, values, and personality. Good luck with that. Let’s invite some teammates into the equation and convert chance into a strategy.

It takes one “small world” discovery to remind us of the power of connection. Our circles of friends and professional networks overlap in unexpected ways. Relationships established decades ago resurface as new circumstances elevate new partnerships. Perhaps this phenomenon arises out of random chance. Or maybe…

It’s time for a change. The leadership team hasn’t yet recognized your decision to leave the organization. They’re unwittingly funding your job hunt. Perhaps it was the lack of investment in your growth or maybe the misalignment with your values that triggered your readiness. It no longer matters why you’ve decided to leave. Your focus has shifted to the next opportunity.

Some connections are more meaningful than others. Basic socialization has plenty of value but the best networking leads to mutual growth. Imagine a funnel fed at the top by every single human with whom you have either a first, second, or third degree connection. Consider a narrow exit point where the flow of connections is defined by only the most impactful relationships. By what criteria might your priorities be determined?

Connectors know everyone. They’re not simply collectors of people. They join people with others. They promote their networks by sharing them generously. In a positive spiral of teaming, requests lead to introductions which, in turn, ignite collaborations that eventually prompt referrals. The cycle continues as connectors expand the base of pooled talent. Consider three strategies for growing your network:

There is always a most engaged person in the audience. Whether a professor in front of a classroom or a speaker addressing hundreds at a professional conference, one participant lifts the energy in the room by tuning in with all senses. Everybody else reaps the benefits. Consider these examples.

I couldn’t decide which show to watch: the team on the field or the team upstairs. Drama was unfolding in both locations. Sitting in a corporate suite at a professional sporting event provides a unique perch from which to observe team dynamics.