Get better at: Building a strong network
Today's move
Send a message to someone in your network without an ask: Congratulate them on a promotion, send an article that made you think of them, or just say "hi."
Why it works
Those small interactions make you come across as genuine, rather than as someone simply trying to get something, and that's critical to building a network that advances your career.
Dorie Clark, a communication coach and leadership and workplace author, told Business Insider that you should avoid becoming the person who reaches out only when they need a favor.
That means networking shouldn't begin when you're looking for a new job. Even if you're happy where you are, building relationships with your peers can pay off over time. A 2023 study of two billion LinkedIn connections across more than 7,000 companies found that firms with highly connected employees outperformed those whose workers were less connected.
Try it today
Reach out to at least one person in your network without asking for anything.
That way, if you do eventually need help, it won't feel like you're calling out of the blue.
The bottom line
Creating meaningful connections takes time and genuine effort that should start long before you need a favor.
Source
This insight is drawn from Business Insider reporting on the Dos and Don'ts of networking, citing commentary from Dorie Clark, a communication coach and leadership and workplace author. Read the full story from Business Insider's Alice Tecotzky and Tim Paradis here.
It also includes information from a 2023 study from Harvard Business School about why companies should care about employees' LinkedIn connections.
Read next
Ana writes about workplace trends and how AI is reshaping the roles of software engineers. She also regularly interviews C-suite executives about their career trajectories and leadership insights.Ana hosts a weekly video series called "Work Shift," which breaks down the biggest workplace news of the week. She holds a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from NYU and has been featured on BBC, NPR, and other global media platforms.Have a tip? You can contact her via email at [email protected] or through the secure-messaging app Signal at aalt.19.
