How can you use your connections to advance your career?

Identifying career objectives requires a positive mindset, a clear vision, and strategic manifestation of goals. Positive thinking fuels your belief in your abilities and your confidence when interacting with your network. Building a vision guides your networking efforts to connect with people and opportunities that align with your objectives. Manifesting outcomes is about aligning thoughts, actions, and networking to realize your goals. Clearly define and communicate your objectives, use your connections to find relevant opportunities, and take proactive steps to achieve your vision. This holistic approach helps you leverage your connections effectively to advance your career.

There is a Step Zero here. That is actively going out and helping others. I call this building the karma bank. Ideally, this should have been happening throughout one's career so when one needs help for one's own advancement, there is enough goodwill and karma already built in that the community will conspire to help. Then yes, identifying what we want, why we want and how we want. And trying to break it down so that the requests can be broken down and shared with a variety of folks for a diversity of opinions and possibilities for assistance.

This is a make or break step in my opinion. If you haven't spoken or reached out to someone for months or years, and suddenly you reach out to them and asking for help, it is a big turn off! Be empathetic first and foremost. Take the time to study what they have done and why. These days many folks share personal details right on this platform. So see if there is something you can relate to and maybe even help them first. Once the communication channels have been re-established, slowly send out feelers

Mapping your network goes beyond a simple cataloging of contacts; it involves a conscious understanding of both extrinsic and intrinsic variables. Extrinsic mapping relates to your horizontal and vertical connections in various sectors and roles. Intrinsic mapping, on the other hand, delves into self-awareness and mindfulness. It examines personal barriers or biases that might limit your vision, and how you can overcome them. Bridge building and relationship development initiatives work across this spectrum, connecting you with opportunities that align with your career objectives. This comprehensive approach allows you to harness your network more effectively, considering not only external factors but also internal dynamics.

This is super important. No sales pitches. No asking for help. No "pretense" of niceties. It should all be about getting to a place where there is mutual trust. It takes time. And only then should any request be put on the table.

Professional relationships are not all that dissimilar to personal ones. They require effort. The more you can put into a professional connection, the better. If you learn personal anecdotes about someone in your network, be sure to document them and bring them up in subsequent conversations. You will be astonished that remembering a small thing like a pet's name or a person's favorite sports team will do in developing a professional relationship.

Strengthening relationships isn't just about regular communication; it's about understanding and attending to relationship dynamics. By utilizing neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) techniques, you can analyze, match, mirror, and bridge relationships that align with your career objectives. NLP helps you to resonate with your connections by adapting to their communication styles, fostering empathy, trust, and rapport. Whether offering support or asking for advice, integrating NLP techniques promotes a deeper connection, making your network a powerful tool in both direct and indirect ways to manifest your career goals, ensuring a more effective path to success.

Asking for referrals or recommendations indeed taps into the foundational importance of vision building and manifesting career objectives. The practice demands mindfulness of not only the extrinsic, but also the intrinsic factors of connection dynamics. Respect, specificity, and gratitude aren't mere formalities but are integral to the process of aligning connections with your career vision. Utilizing techniques like neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) ensures a more empathetic approach, aligning your request with the other person's perception and willingness. This synergy creates a bridge to opportunities, advancing your career through meaningful, conscious networking.

A referral or recommendation is a super easy way to bring your past experiences and interactions to life for someone you might work with or for in the future. When you're able to put a face and name to your previous success, you will open doors you didn't even know were there. After seeing LinkedIn profiles brimming with recommendations from professional colleagues, clients, and connections, I put this to use on my own profile and am already seeing the benefits! Now when I'm reaching out to prospects of any kind, they can quickly see what value I can bring - just by viewing my profile.

Follow-ups are so crucial to strengthening a connection. Put time blocks on your calendar to reach back out to people you've connected with in the past. If you're popping into someone's inbox without an ask, without selling them something, without any kind of agenda, there is a world of opportunity there. Be genuine. Ask about what's new in their life. How's that new job going? Have they traveled recently? What are they looking forward to in this current season? This kind of outreach can open the door to all types of business opportunities. Even if the timing isn't right, these connections won't forget your authenticity the next time an opportunity arises.

Following up and maintaining connections is a vital part of networking that echoes the principles of positive thinking, vision building, and manifesting outcomes. It's not merely a procedural step but reflects a mindfulness in relationship dynamics. Following up with gratitude strengthens trust, while offering value or assistance fosters reciprocity, aligning with the vision of mutual growth. Maintaining connections isn't just about advancing individual goals but building a network that thrives on empathy, collaboration, and shared success. It's a continuous process that enriches both your career path and the community you're part of.