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Where is My Network When I Need It?

December 14, 2008 | Author: Promise Phelon | Filed under: The Networking Habit

My cellphone rang as I waved goodnight to the UpMo team on my way out the door.

It was 7 p.m., dark — the end of a long day — but I answered the call.

It was a young guy I mentor occasionally. He’s struggling with his career and unsure what steps to take.

He’s already been laid off and is finding that colleagues are not particularly responsive to his calls or emails.

He asked me why this happens: Where is my network when I need it?

I reached back into my day and thought about the two-hour meeting I had with one of my key investors. Incredibly smart guy. Humble. A fierce businessman with wisdom about many things. Like a partner, he provides guidance and amazing support.

He spent those two hours helping me diagnose an operational challenge and plan a sales move we need to make quickly. TWO HOURS OF HIS TIME! We tested various scenarios, talked about fall-back positions — and he took a list of action items. Yes, he has an incentive—the more successful we are, the more successful he is.

I turned back to my phone call. I asked this young man, a great guy with so much potential, how much time he spends each week managing his “personal board of advisers.” He didn’t even know what I meant.

So, what about you — are you on the journey by yourself?

  • Who are your investors?
  • Who are your comrades?
  • Is there one person (besides your spouse) who is equally tied to your success?

We all need fellow travelers down the career highway — people who know our shortcomings and will call us on them. People who will invest hours helping us answer the question, “What’s next for me?” This group is what most of us lack. And if we’re lucky enough to have such a group, we’re not doing enough to manage it.

Most folks don’t realize how much time your average CEO spends communicating with the board, answering investor questions and maintaining the company ecosystem with relevant information. Why?

Because an ecosystem — whether an organization or your professional network — can only work if it’s fueled by insight, information and action.

So who are the fellow travelers who comprise your professional network? Who are the people you need to inform and ask questions to and of? Who’s fueling and helping you drive your career?

Take action: Write down the names of seven of your closest fellow travelers. Next to the names, write down how much time you spend managing those relationships. Then commit to doubling that time over the next month.

Related Resources:

Use UpMo’s Network Readiness Evaluator and take a look at Five Lessons From Successful Networkers

HR veteran Liz Ryan offers some tips on how to avoid being a “me-first” networker

Jason Alba writes about the concept of Givers Gain, and how it can help job seekers

If you’ve been letting your network languish, the holidays are a good time to reconnect

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This entry was posted on Sunday, December 14th, 2008 and is filed under The Networking Habit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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1 person has left a comment

I will absolutely do this. Also, as a job seeker, I find your links to other resources very helpful. I’ve been working hard to avoid being a “me-first” networker and this gives some great tips.

Lee Garverick wrote on December 16, 2008 - 1:25 pm | Visit Link

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