21. External Connections: Expanding your network for career growth and opportunities.
Your external network is a vital resource for learning, growth, and new opportunities. It’s where you exchange ideas, seek insights, and stay ahead of emerging industry trends. Building meaningful relationships – whether in-person or virtually- broadens your perspective and can open doors to future career paths.
Awareness:
- Is your external network robust enough to support both your personal and professional growth?
- How frequently do you intentionally engage with someone in your external network?
- If you needed career advice or industry insights today, do you know who to reach out to?
- Are there thought leaders or industry experts you’d like to learn from but haven’t yet connected with?
Agency:
- Take one action this week to expand your network – reach out to a thought-leader, reconnect with an old colleague, or attend a relevant event.
- Join a professional network or industry group aligned with your career goals.
- Identity key individuals on LinkedIn and initiate conversations to strengthen those connections. (See post on LinkedIn for more information).
- Identify key individuals you’d like to connect with on LinkedIn and take action to initiate those conversations.
- Schedule one virtual or in-person coffee chat each month with someone in your network to build deeper relationships with people in your network.
- Seek out a mentor who can offer guidance, expand your perspective, and help you uncover new opportunities.
Recommended Resources:
- GROUP: Rebel Book Club.
- BOOK: Never Eat Aloneby Keith Ferrazzi
- BOOK: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell