What do you do if your professional network is dwindling in late career?

I’d just give up. Game over. Clearly you have developed amnesia. Or get out more. My networks have dwindled… but the network I do have is eminently more selective, potent and salient. Quality over quantity. I have deepened the connections I have and stopped the mindless pursuit of more is better.

Tap into alumni networks from your alma mater or past educational institutions. These networks often offer valuable connections with individuals who share similar academic backgrounds and career trajectories.

Maintaining a robust professional network is crucial, especially in late careers. Here are some strategies to consider: Own Your Age Enthusiastically: Embrace your experience and expertise. Highlight how it benefits potential employers or collaborators. Age can be an asset, not a liability. Identify Multigenerational Connections: Seek out connections across different age groups. Attend industry events, conferences, and workshops. Engage with both seasoned professionals and younger colleagues.

Uh oh, professional network feeling like a ghost town? Here's how to reignite it in my late career: Reconnect with the past: Reach out to old colleagues, classmates - you never know what doors they might open. Industry Immersion: Join industry associations, attend conferences. Reconnect with my field and make new connections. Become a Mentor: Share my experience with younger professionals. It builds relationships and keeps my skills sharp. Embrace Online: Join online communities, participate in industry forums. Become a thought leader in my space. Give Back, Get Back: Volunteer my expertise on boards or committees. Helping others strengthens my network and reputation. By dusting off old ties and building new bridges.

If your professional network is dwindling in late career, consider rejuvenating it by actively engaging in industry events, conferences, and networking platforms. Reach out to former colleagues, attend seminars, join professional associations, and leverage social media. Offer mentorship or consultancy services to stay connected and relevant. Additionally, consider seeking out new networking opportunities through volunteering, teaching, or pursuing new interests. Remember, it's never too late to expand and revitalize your professional network.

Look into virtual networking events and webinars tailored to your industry or professional interests. These online gatherings offer opportunities to meet and connect with like-minded individuals from the comfort of your own space.

Rejuvenate and innovate: reaching out to local leaders within the respective business community, engage, attend, or invite customers and potential customers to events and such. This way you will show case your business's progress. By engaging with those who do business with you will result in the improvement of services offered and control over the dwindling network as you will not be depending on it alone.

While leveraging social media and email is great for networking, don't forget about the power of a good old-fashioned phone call. It's easy to hide behind a screen, but picking up the phone and having a real conversation can forge a much stronger connection. Yes, it might feel a bit more intimidating at first, but trust me, it's worth it. When you take the time to actually talk to someone, you're showing them that you value their time and expertise. Plus, you can pick up on nuances and build rapport in a way that's just not possible through text alone.

I would get out and meet people belly to belly, That's what I did when I owned my Daycare centers and I stayed full for over 24 years.

I've been extremely lucky in my career as technology has been available and easy to adapt too. Make no mistake ladies and gentlemen you must embrace technology. If you need help, get it. No one cares how old you are but they will avoid you if you can't function in today's electronic world.

Meeting people in the real world is great. To me, building a professional network is all about being human and providing value. If you can provide value to someone and show them that you care, your network will grow. And as it expands, be the connector node between the people that you've met to continue this positive cycle. At events, it's important to remember that everyone is in the same spot. They're just waiting for someone to walk up to them with a smile on their face and say "Hey!"

Attending events is a tricky affair. I'm a big believer in being seen, thanking and congratulating the host, and then leave gracefully but leave. To many events are alcohol infused and that's for the host and his close friends not his business associates.

Mentoring is a powerful way to grow your network, but it's often overlooked by small business professionals. It's understandable that you're busy wearing all those hats and keeping your business running smoothly. However, investing time in mentoring someone, even informally, can yield significant benefits. Not only will you help shape the next generation in your field, but you'll also gain fresh perspectives and expand your own connections. Your mentee might introduce you to their network or even become a valuable collaborator in the future. There's also a deep sense of fulfillment that comes from watching someone you've guided succeed.

Remember "Perception TRUMPS reality"! If you feel old, act old, talk old, then you are perceived as old regardless of your age or experience. In later life too many people focus on their experience, few people care about your past experience if it isn't relevant TODAY. Evaluate what the most successful people are doing in your field as far as marketing, social media, and activity within your sector, and do what they do. Why is it that some people are relevant, present, and on point well into their 80's & 90's, while others appear as relics? Active, focused, persistent, engaged, people are perceived as relevant. And static, timid, inactive people are perceived as unnecessary. "Perception TRUMPS reality"!