How good are you at keeping in touch with professional contacts?

This month I have been reflecting a lot on the subject of maintaining and deepening professional relationships. In other words, keeping in touch with people. (I am consciously not calling this "networking" as it seems to provoke strong, often negative reactions in people. I even read an academic journal by Casciaro, Gino, and Kouchaki about 'How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty'.)

I am fascinated by the spectrum of views and approaches I see in my coaching clients when it comes to keeping in touch with their professional contacts.

I have seen both extremes from the individual not on LinkedIn, who doesn't like to share much of themself at work and who never keeps in touch with anyone when they move to their next role, through to the person who proactively plans time to connect with their former colleagues and contacts thus building a wonderful group of champions who advocate for them, and vice versa. I have seen all sorts in between with many people taking a mainly reactive approach, not taking the lead in reaching out, but enjoying the interaction when they hear from people.

It is something that has always mattered to me. When I was young I loved keeping in touch with people I met and friends who moved away, even before technology made it easier for us. Outside of work, friendship is one of my top values. Professionally I like to hear how people are getting on. No surprises that I like hanging out on LinkedIn and that many of my clients are people I have worked with in the past in one way or another.

Even those that aren't brilliant at prioritising connecting acknowledge that the times they have, they have benefitted in a range of ways: in their current role, in personal learning and growth, building their support network and it has often helped them get exposure to job opportunities.

Take a moment now if you'd like to and reflect on these questions:

• Who have you valued professionally in the past but haven't reached out to in a long time?
• How do you think they would feel to hear from you?
• What action could you take now to reconnect?

But before you rush off to message them, one quick request??: I am gathering data for a research project into networking, and would really love to include your view via this short survey. It will only take a couple of minutes: https://bit.ly/NetworkingERP

Thanks a million,

Ellie xoxox

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