| Let's talk about your network. Whether you know it or | | | | the judge.The safest path is to be honest and tell the |
| not you have several different types of networks: | | | | person how you feel (in a nice way, of course). I'm |
| business, family, friends, community, acquaintances and | | | | sorry I can't help you with your job search. If you had |
| so on. So, what are you doing to build and/or maintain | | | | stayed in touch I would be better prepared to help? If |
| the relationships in those networks? Let's face it. Not all | | | | they get their feelings hurt, too bad. You are operating |
| relationships require the same strategy or plan for | | | | with professionalism.The 6 degrees of separation: |
| maintenance. It is, however, important to understand | | | | Lets consider A & B again. A or B gets a new job. It's |
| that more positive results come from networking in a | | | | not all that uncommon for an acquaintance to turn up |
| professional manner. It is very important to treat your | | | | within your circle of business or become a person of |
| network with kid gloves. Continued contact proves to | | | | influence. Small world syndrome! What's in it for you? |
| maintain and cultivate the relationship no matter how it | | | | Would you want to work for them? Could you have |
| evolves.There may be people you don't even who | | | | them serve as a reference? Is this someone you |
| know have the power to influence the outcome of a | | | | need to cultivate on an ongoing basis to further your |
| particular situation you're in. Worse yet, you may never | | | | career? Can you strengthen the relationship by helping |
| ever know it even after having lived through it. | | | | this person and therefore positioning yourself in a more |
| Sometimes it's just a matter of who knows you or | | | | favorable light?Imagine that A or B knows your boss |
| whom you have met. It may depend on whom your | | | | socially. Would he/she be likely to speak of you |
| family knows, whom your cleaning lady knows, or on | | | | favorably? A or B becomes a decision maker in his |
| whom your child's teacher knows.See the | | | | her new position. He/She is now someone you need |
| associations? Get the point? We are all connected | | | | to call on. Will he/she have an open door policy? Will |
| and some say that it only takes six "connections" to | | | | she/he hold a grudge forever because you did not |
| come full circle back to you. Keep that in mind as you | | | | help him/her previously? Would he/she then speak |
| cultivate your network. Not only are the people that | | | | unkindly of you among acquaintances? A or B is now |
| you come in contact in your network but they also | | | | your enemy and feels slighted because you didn't help |
| have ancillary connections to your network.Consider | | | | her/him. What possible influence can she/he have on |
| this example: | | | | your career? A or B hits a rough patch. Do you feel |
| Person A ? This person knows you fairly well. You | | | | guilty for not helping him/her if it had been in your |
| have been at events together and an informal bond of | | | | power to do so?Do you see how we have come full |
| friendship established. You communicate on a sporadic | | | | circle? Someone you know as an acquaintance today |
| and irregular basis about work issues. Person A falls of | | | | could be your boss or control your boss tomorrow. |
| the face of the earth for six months and does not | | | | Your cleaning lady could clean the house of your next |
| respond in any way to your attempts at | | | | boss. Or you could be sitting next to your future |
| communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and | | | | employer at a PTA meeting. That being said, the best |
| he/she illicit your help.This is a tough call. Will you help | | | | course of action is to remain professional. Even if you |
| him/her?Consider these points when making your | | | | feel that you have been taken advantage of or |
| decision:Person A gets back to you only when her/she | | | | imposed upon. Strategically, it is important to stay |
| needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely | | | | professional in all phases of our lives. What goes |
| to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person | | | | around comes around. It may not even take six |
| A reciprocate when you need assistance? Is it worth | | | | degrees to do that!Discover the easy way to make |
| your time and energy to help person A? Remember, | | | | yourself stand out from others. How to become an |
| everyone has a limited amount of time and resources. | | | | expert in your field; How to write a better resume; |
| You need to continually assess how to maintain your | | | | How to write a personal press release; How to |
| relationships without monopolizing your time.Person B - | | | | accomplish things no one else is doing and to get |
| You know this person in a business sense as well. | | | | people to think about you in ways they have not |
| Person B sends you periodic notes and picks up the | | | | thought before and much more including critical |
| phone to call you and answers when you contact her. | | | | checklists for those important business meetings.This |
| This person does communicate, even if it's just a quick | | | | indispensable workbook will show you specific ways |
| email. | | | | to accomplish your personal branding goals and launch |
| Would you help this person? Consider these points in | | | | your career into the stratosphere. We have done all |
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