What do you do if your professional network starts to fade during late career and retirement?

Volunteer - expand your horizons by volunteering in both things you know, and things you don't. Go out and meet new people and then get introduced to other new people. Use LinkedIn more effectively - Connect with people in your career field and accept those who want to link to you, but don't just accept and ignore. Talk to them Attend conferences and Symposiums and bring your biz cards with you. For all you wall flowers - set a goal of talking to 3 people each day - see where it takes you.

Network building is not a destination. It is an ongoing effort which, like most relationship skills, takes constant effort. It is no different than choosing friends and spending time with them. Do you only spend time with friends because of what they can do for you or give you? That is a transactional mindset and one that will, in the short term get you some results, but in the long term make you very unhappy. Build your network and spend time in your network just as you would in any other meaningful relationship. If things change and people grow in different directions, that is ok. But always be building your network.

Staying active and engaged in your field is indeed crucial for maintaining and expanding your professional network. Attending events, webinars, workshops, and conferences can help you meet new people and stay connected with your industry. Joining online communities and participating in discussions can also showcase your expertise and keep you visible to others in your field. Overall, staying active and engaged demonstrates your ongoing commitment to your profession and can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.

Reaching out and reconnecting with your contacts is an excellent way to maintain and strengthen your professional network. Sending a friendly email, message, or phone call to check in with them can help keep your relationship alive and show that you value their connection. Similarly, engaging with their posts on social media platforms like LinkedIn can help you stay updated on their activities and interests, allowing you to maintain a meaningful connection. Overall, regular communication and engagement can help prevent your professional network from fading and open up new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

This is probably the most important thing you can do. Networking is a two way street. What value do you add to the relationship? Are there mutual benefits for both parties wanting to network together? What expertise can you offer? It is all about bringing value to others. Whether you are trying to link to a job or anything else. Yes you have wants and needs but genuinely offering value to others creates bonds and friendships that are lasting. Give more than you ask for.

Offering your help and expertise to your professional network is a great way to strengthen and maintain your relationships. Volunteering, mentoring, coaching, or consulting can not only benefit others but also help you stay engaged and connected in your field. Sharing your knowledge, skills, or resources with your contacts demonstrates your willingness to contribute and support others, which can enhance your reputation and credibility. Overall, offering your help and expertise is a win-win situation that can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.

This is such a great topic! It’s particularly difficult for professionals in public administration to maintain their networks, I’m told, because we’re not really encouraged to publicize our opinions or have too much dialogue outside the public sector organization we work within. Constraints such as limited political activity rights, FOI/privacy issues and the need for secrecy in policy development certainly hampers outside dialogue. Finding new roles, often by working as a consultant, writing, attending and speaking at conferences, lunching with connections (old and new) can help generate momentum, confidence and a new raison d’etre for this activity.

Here are several things you can do to maintain your professional network during late career and retirement: Attend industry events. Use LinkedIn actively. Volunteer. Join peer groups. Attend workshops. Mentor others. Stay in touch with former colleagues. Explore hobbies. Consider part-time work. Stay curious and open-minded.

Shift your focus away from chasing networks. Start taking more risks. You’ve been in the industry long enough to know how things work; there is a status quo out there in your organization which can be bucked by thinking outside the box and ruffling some feathers a bit; at this point, what is there to lose? Don’t chase the network; find a way to have the network chase you.