You want to get ahead in your industry. How can you build relationships with the right people?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start reaching out to people, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and why. What are your short-term and long-term career aspirations? What skills or knowledge do you need to develop or improve? What challenges or opportunities are you facing or seeking? Having a specific and realistic goal will help you narrow down your target audience and tailor your message.

5 Expand your network

As you build relationships with the right people, you also need to expand your network and reach out to new contacts. You can ask your existing contacts for introductions or recommendations to other people who can help you with your goal. You can also join online or offline communities, groups, or events related to your industry or field, and participate in discussions, workshops, or projects. You can also create and share your own content, insights, or opinions, and attract new followers or fans.

6 Evaluate your results

Finally, you need to evaluate your results and see how your networking and relationship-building efforts have helped you with your goal. You need to measure your progress, outcomes, or impact, and identify what worked well and what didn't. You also need to reflect on your learning, growth, or improvement, and acknowledge how your contacts have contributed to it. You also need to celebrate your achievements, thank your contacts, and plan your next steps.

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?