You have a big project deadline coming up. How can you leverage your network to help you meet it?

1 Identify your needs

The first step is to assess your project scope, timeline, resources, and risks. What are the main deliverables, milestones, and dependencies? What are the gaps, challenges, and uncertainties? What are the skills, expertise, and support that you need to complete your project successfully? By identifying your needs, you can prioritize them and map them to the potential sources of help in your network.

2 Reach out strategically

The second step is to reach out to the people in your network who can help you with your needs. You may have different types of contacts, such as peers, mentors, sponsors, clients, partners, vendors, or experts. Depending on the nature and urgency of your request, you may use different channels, such as email, phone, chat, or social media. When you reach out, be clear, concise, and respectful. Explain the context and purpose of your project, the specific help that you need, and the expected outcome and deadline. Also, show your appreciation and willingness to reciprocate.

3 Follow up effectively

The third step is to follow up with the people who responded to your request. You may need to provide more details, clarify expectations, coordinate actions, or monitor progress. You may also need to deal with issues, such as delays, changes, or conflicts. To follow up effectively, you need to communicate regularly, track and document the results, and acknowledge and reward the contributions. You also need to be flexible and adaptable, as your project may evolve and require new or different help from your network.

4 Evaluate and learn

The fourth step is to evaluate and learn from your experience. After you complete your project, you should review the outcomes and feedback, and measure the impact and value of your network. You should also reflect on what worked well and what could be improved in your networking process. How did you identify, reach out, follow up, and evaluate your network? What were the benefits and challenges of leveraging your network? What are the best practices and lessons learned for future projects?

5 Nurture and grow

The fifth step is to nurture and grow your network. You should maintain and strengthen the relationships that you established or enhanced during your project. You should also seek and offer feedback, advice, referrals, or opportunities to your network. You should also expand your network by connecting with new or diverse contacts who can add value to your professional development. By nurturing and growing your network, you can increase your trust, reputation, and influence as a business architect.

6 Celebrate and share

The sixth step is to celebrate and share your success. You should recognize and thank the people who helped you with your project. You should also share your achievements and insights with your network. You should also showcase your skills and knowledge as a business architect, and demonstrate your value and impact to your stakeholders. By celebrating and sharing your success, you can inspire and motivate others, and attract more opportunities and collaborations.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?