Leveraging Your Network: Engaged and Active

In my first post of this series, entitled the “Information Gap”, I shared some of the quick insights on building your information loop with authenticity and careful attention to detail. We covered the basics on knowing where to turn to for information, alleviating the stress of information overload, and re-connecting with people with intentionality and true commitment to relationship. I’ve heard that it was refreshing but a little scary, seeing as though the next step is learning how to Leverage Your Network.

The ability to leverage your network is a skill that can be taught. There are no secret instructions or a hidden agenda to activating your network for your next move – the only thing that might be hidden is knowing precisely what you want. Now of course, for the Millennial, that might be the hardest part. But after talking with yet another group of more “seasoned” mentors and friends, I have learned not to fret about the long-term. This is what they had to say.

The Whole Picture is Unnecessary

I could hardly believe my ears when I first heard this. I subscribe to the school of thought that the whole picture is the only way to see the granular steps but the elders have spoken with full conviction against this. In fact, I have found that whole picture planning is short-sighted and leaves no room for spontaneity and openness with emerging opportunities. Take for example, the high-tech industry: no one saw this coming three decades ago. The whole picture is for starters – incredibly hard to obtain, but really is an impractical way of planning your next step. Your network is helpful in getting you from Point A to Point B but would be in way over its head if it had to guide you to Point Z. They left me with the words, that the next step is just enough information to work with. So think 3-5 years, and not 15-20 years.

Make a Specific “Ask”

I know that I’m not the only person that has called someone in my network and found myself rambling all through my lunch break about what I want. Only to find that I never really knew what I wanted to begin with. One kind mentor asked me to take a look at a few companies that I’d be interested in making contact with and search their job openings to see what day-to-day responsibilities were most desirable. After, he asked me to write him with my interests and he would reach out to his contacts in order to put in a good word. It is important to know what you want and to know how you want to use someone in your network to further the goal. Perhaps it is not a job but just an informational meeting, or even an invitation to an upcoming event for general networking purposes. The takeaway here is to know what you want before you pick up the phone or send the email.

Keep them in the Loop

As stakeholders and viable key players in your career trajectory, it is not only courteous but absolutely imperative to keep your network in the loop about your current happenings. If you decided to pursue graduate study email them and let them know about the types of things you are learning, pick their brain on electives you should consider taking, and talk with them about the projects you are working on. If you are contemplating a job offer in another city, drop them a line and get their quick thoughts. Finding ways to keep your network engaged and apart of how you are steering your career ship is the most authentic way of telling them they matter and you are thankful for them. A happy network is easiest to leverage, and most times it is because you are fresh on their minds when opportunities come along. I know that I’m always happy to get the “Passing this along to you” email with a cool job posting or event that might not have even been officially posted yet.

As the onslaught of emails overflow your inbox and the event invitations via Facebook seem endless, there are ways to keep your network front and center in helping you make your next move. Leveraging your network helps you to sort through the clutter, focus on the task at hand and be spot on in determining your next step. It starts with knowing where you want to go (most immediately) and communicating how you could use their help in getting you there.

If you have any other tips you’d like to share please comment below. And of course drop me a line if you have any thoughts on how you “Graduate Your Network” once you have reached a major turning point in your career.