Your Network is Your Lifeblood

Your network is your lifeblood in whatever job you have internally or externally. Without people you know, understand and connect with you are always going to fail. Are you doing enough to build and maintain it?

I had a call today with the very smart, interesting and excellent Jon Bircher, ACC. We haven’t talked in almost 20 years and yesterday he sent me a message and we arranged to talk.

I have a lot of respect for Jon and really like his approach to leadership coaching. He finds concepts and ideas and connects them together to create solutions, and as a people person, he asks insightful and interesting questions.

Even in the short call today I left with ideas!

It is a great example of how someone I met a lifetime ago, pops up and immediately adds value. The network shows its value again!

I am working with a client at the moment across a series of markets. They have a team of established customer account managers who are helping us to develop shared strategies with a key customer.

The established ones are able to send messages to a variety of customers cross-functionally to truly include all points of view.

When there are delays they can pick up the phone to key people and internally they are a goldmine to make meetings happen that appear impossible.

There is also a new person in the role and they, without the established network are finding it harder.

They are struggling to progress as quickly.

Many organisations recruit their salespeople for their network.

Experience is often understood as “I have lots of contacts I can call on”

I disagree with this approach strongly because it excludes many more important skills, however, it demonstrates the value of a network to the recruiting business.

I have tried to actively nurture my network and have often failed but I know it is important.

All of my clients have come through people I know who have asked for help or more commonly have been referred me to by someone they know.

Yet, sadly it is not something I see much time invested in by account managers. They rely on accidental or customer-managed meetings to meet people.

Do you actively push yourself and your team to build contacts?

Is it more important now since we are all working remotely?

Is it easy? What tips would you share?

Your network in your business is your smooth path to success and with your customers, it opens doors and removes barriers.

Are you missing something important because you are being passive?

I intend to connect more with colleagues, clients and friends. It is part of the reason to be in London. Wish me luck!