You’ve got a lot of professional contacts. How can you make sure you’re not missing out on opportunities?

First, never call people contacts. This is about relationships. Words like contacts and leads dehumanize it. Many people, after a job search, have a party and move on, forgetting everything they can about the search because it was so distasteful. This will not end well. An effective network is essential to good career management. The best time to organize your network is immediately following a successful search, assuming you have kept track of who helped- and who didn't. Qualifications for your network include: How did they help you (or not)? Do you respect them? Why? Can they help you in the future? How? Can you help them in the future? How? Are they known in their industry? For what? What are their family details?

FOLLOWING UP is the key to mining the gold in your professional contacts. Most of your follow up should be about THEM. It should show a genuine concern for their needs and interests. Seek first to understand, not only because you need to know but also because they need to feel heard and understood. Then you can add value by offering resources and solutions to THEIR problems. You may have heard that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. The best way to motivate people is to find out what they want and show them how to get it. As a Social Psychologist I can assure you that most people want to be heard, understood, valued and appreciated. Then they will like, trust, remember and buy from you. Sincerely, Buddy

At a time when information is immense, it is important to work with information well and using the appropriate filters for each situation.

Effectively organizing your business contacts is crucial for streamlined communication and relationship management. Start by implementing a comprehensive contact management system, whether it's through a dedicated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software or a well-structured spreadsheet. Categorize contacts based on criteria such as industry, role, or engagement level, making it easier to tailor your communication and outreach strategies.

Some of the ways to manage your network and Organise your Contacts are - 1. Centralize : Consolidate all contact information in one place. 2. Categories : Professional, Personal, Baker etc 3. Keep Notes : Keep notes against your contact 4. Contact Cleanup : Removing unnecessary or outdated information 5. Be Secure : Don't give out other people's contact details to someone else In my opinion, organised contacts can bridge gaps, streamline communication, and create a collaborative culture.

The content we share is where we can stand out. There is a lot of information, but there is a tendency not to work on the subjects in depth, I usually take care to deepen and work on the contents in such a way that they are more useful to those who read them.

It’s important to understand that your network evolves over time and supporting your connections is at least as important (if not more it more) as forwarding your own interests. Real relationships are always reciprocal - kindness in helping or supporting others generally pays back handsomely over time.

In managing my network, I adhere to the principle of "Give, and thou shalt receive." By consistently nurturing relationships, I believe that actively contributing, expressing gratitude, and recognizing others' achievements create a reciprocal dynamic. This approach emphasizes the idea that through giving, one opens the door to receiving support, opportunities, and collaboration in return. It underscores the interconnectedness of relationships and highlights the positive impact of being proactive in offering assistance and appreciation within my network.

You have to consciously feed your network. Send birthday cards. Congratulate them on their achievements. If you see articles they would be interested in, send them a link. Occasionally tell them about an achievement of yours, and how it relates to their help. If they're local, have coffee or a meal 2 or 3 times a year to catch up, share thoughts. If they have problems and you can help, do it! Always, always, always ask what you can do for them!

Nurturing your business relationships is invaluable, as it fosters trust, loyalty, and mutual understanding between parties. These strong connections not only enhance collaboration and teamwork but also serve as a foundation for long-term success by opening doors to new opportunities and fostering a positive reputation within your industry.

I think it is important to consider the fact that there is a network of professionals that you are constantly wanted to build relationships with so regular and consistent contact is critical to ensure that you can stay aware of opportunities. I always ensure to post congratulatory messages and updates on what is going on in my world for awareness but also send personal notes to those in my network to help nurture the relationship. A little goes a long way and you never know how one quite note or message to a colleague can have a longer term impact down in the future.

Your network can be of greatest value if you are interested in changing careers or in researching fields in which you have an interest. All new career activities should begin with your network. This works both ways. Always offer help if someone in your network is considering new paths.

The network of contacts we have today is a powerful tool. If we have projects and if we need to share ideas, we either already have people in our network that we can contact or we can easily expand the network to find the right people.

One way that I have found helps to expand my network is to also join groups and make connections of those in these groups that can add value to my scope of influence and reach.

A network is a living thing. People will come and go in your network, so you must be ever-vigilant in your awareness oof possible new members. But beware!! Maintaining an effective network takes a lot of effort. You don't want to have a network so big that you can't do your job well. Personally, I don't think you can successfully manage a network oof more than 20-25 people.

Community, Group, Network The commonalities of these, bring increased knowledge, continuous learning, and greater reach. "Great minds think alike" - Possibly But being "connected" to Great minds brings greater potential.

Evaluating your business network as you grow is essential to ensure alignment with your evolving goals and objectives. Regular assessments allow you to identify valuable connections, potential collaborators, and areas for expansion, enabling strategic adjustments that maximize the effectiveness of your network in supporting business growth.

I completely agree with this assessment, it is an area that I recognize that I have a lot to improve and that is why I will take advantage of the suggestion

I had a client years ago who began a job search with 6 people and no network. In 5 weeks he was recruited and hired for a job that was built around him and paid 20% more than his previous job. That was his final job search. Every one of the following five jobs he went on to take came from his developed network. "We have a problem here, and were wondering if you'd be interested in..." That's a much better way to get a job than having to go look for one! That's the power of a well-nourished and maintained network.

Stay connected with your professional contacts by - Engaging in meaningful conversations - Acknowledging and Appreciating their contributions - Contribute, Collaborate and Co-create