Relationship-Based Growth: Why Internal Moves Are Your Next Big Opportunity

I sat in my office late one evening, staring at another "moved to a new position" notification on LinkedIn. Sarah, a key decision-maker I'd worked with for years, had just transferred to a different department. My first thought was, "There goes another relationship." But that moment led to one of the most powerful realizations in my consulting career. Marco Giunta ??

I discovered that these internal moves aren't relationship endings – they're relationship multipliers.

I'm going to take you back to that pivotal moment. As a go-to-market strategy consultant and private equity operating partner, I've always known that relationships are currency. But I was approaching internal moves all wrong. I was seeing closed doors when I should have been seeing open windows.

The Revelation

The breakthrough came when I started tracking these moves systematically. Instead of letting these relationships fade into the corporate ether, I developed what I now call the "Prospect Internal Move Methodology." This approach has preserved valuable connections and turned them into powerful networking multipliers.

The Methodology in Action

Here's how it works:

1. Track and Monitor: Set up a systematic way to track your existing contacts. Use LinkedIn notifications, but don't stop there. Create a dedicated database of your relationships, including their roles, departments, and previous interactions.
2. Act Fast: Timing is everything when someone moves to a new role. The first 30 days in a new position are crucial. This is when people are most open to new ideas and building their new networks.
3. Personalize Your Outreach: Don't just send a generic "congratulations." Reference specific projects you've worked on together or challenges you've helped them overcome. This reminds them of your value proposition.
4. Strategic Next Steps: Based on their new role, propose one of two paths: If they're in a position of purchasing power, schedule a meeting to discuss how your services align with their new responsibilities. If they're in a different capacity, ask for an introduction to relevant decision-makers in their old or new department.

The Results Speak for Themselves

This methodology has transformed my practice. One internal move led to three new department relationships. A former client who moved to a strategic planning role connected me with decision-makers in her previous and new departments, leading to two major consulting engagements.

The Bigger Picture

What makes this approach so effective is its foundation in human psychology. People in new roles want to prove their value quickly. They're more likely to engage with familiar faces who have delivered results before. They're also often eager to help their former department succeed by making valuable introductions.

Building Your System

To implement this approach effectively:

1. Create a tracking system (CRM, spreadsheet, or dedicated tool)
2. Set up automated alerts for role changes
3. Develop templates for different scenarios (direct decision-maker vs. connector)
4. Track success metrics and refine your approach

The Mindset Shift

The key is shifting from seeing internal moves as lost opportunities to viewing them as relationship expansion opportunities. Each move potentially doubles your network reach – maintaining the original department connection while building influence in a new area.

Looking Forward

In today's dynamic business environment, internal mobility is increasing. The average professional changes roles every 2-3 years, even within the same company. This isn't a challenge – it's an opportunity to expand your influence exponentially.

Remember: Every internal move is a chance to double your relationship capital. The question isn't whether to maintain these relationships but how to leverage them effectively.

What's your experience with maintaining business relationships through role changes? Have you found yourself letting valuable connections slip away during transitions? Let's talk about the strategies that have worked for you.