The Sum of Your Circle

It’s often said that we’re the average of the five people we spend the most time with. While not based on science, there is some social truth to the influence of those we surround ourselves with, especially as entrepreneurs, career coaches, and résumé writers who impact others’ lives. 

Let’s face it, while we excel at advising clients on building networks, we often neglect our own. 

It’s time to practice what we preach and craft a circle that mirrors the ambition and expertise we encourage in our clients and supports our growth as professionals and people. 

Assessing Your Network 

If you coach clients on networking for a job search, you probably tell them to start by assessing who is in it. 

“Who are the first five people in your Rolodex?” is usually my prompt for initiating brainstorming. 

So, who are yours?

Map out your network. Who do you currently rely on? Do you have a mentor? A peer who challenges you? A protégé for you to mentor? People who inspire you? Push you? Make you better?

Identifying these roles is just the beginning of understanding your network and identifying the holes in it. 

→ Action Item: Catalog your network across these categories to see where you’re strong and where you are lacking: Mentors, Referral Sources, Peers, Industry Thought Leaders, Ideal Clients, Client Advocates, Industry Connectors, Domain Specialists, Supporting Non-Professionals (Family and Friends), and other Entrepreneurs (of varying industries). 

Diversify and Fortify Your Connections  

Surrounding yourself with people like you is beneficial in many ways, but so is the diversity in perspectives that come from different points of view, whether it be demographics, industry-specific, or another form of diversity – let’s mix it up! 

Enrich your business with the advice, counsel, and expertise of people beyond your industry, outside your community, with different skin colors, income brackets, and geographies. Find people who can challenge your thinking or introduce you to new concepts. 

Whether it’s a coach you let behind the curtain of your business world, a VA who can freshen up your content, or a serial entrepreneur – networking outside your immediate circle will make you a better business owner and coach. Period.

Action Item: Analyze the network map created in Step 1 to pinpoint at least one type of connection you lack, and set a goal to bridge that gap. Who can you engage to fill the holes, diversify, and round out your network? Is it a specific person or “anyone” in a particular category? Where would be a great place to get in front of your targets? LinkedIn? Through your existing network? Elsewhere? 

Taking Our Own Advice

We know the theory of networking, and we even know its execution. It’s time to apply it like the pros we are! 

It’s time to go to work and be where you’ve deemed most advantageous for meeting the people filling your network. Whether attending targeted events, engaging in online forums, strategic messaging on LinkedIn, or volunteering, build your strategy – just as if you were a job seeker prospecting a curated hit list of companies. 

Remember, it’s about quality, not just quantity, so you don’t have to spam the world or show up at every Meet-Up on the planet, but you have to get yourself out there, in the right way, and in the right places.

Action Item: Identify an upcoming event where you’ll likely meet the potential contacts you want to add to your network. Similarly, craft an engagement plan to nurture similar contacts via LinkedIn or online communities. Whether in-person or virtual, focus on building a relationship and be ready to follow through with a clear call to action.

Rinse and Repeat for Ultimate Network Growth

Don’t start by filling just one hole! Set the intention to expand your network strategically and consistently so you’re never left with a hole again! Set specific, measurable goals for how you will conduct your networking efforts, and set a stretch goal for yourself to engage with a thought leader or influencer who seems just a little bit out of reach. 

You never know what doors will open or new opportunities will present themselves when you network intentionally and strategically, but I can promise: you’ll be pleasantly surprised! 

A strong, supportive network is critical to our success as entrepreneurs. Obviously, we need the direct business results from referrals, target clients, and client advocates, but there’s so much more to gain with a rich network. 

Entrepreneurship is 80% mental, and building the right community can be the difference between feeling lonely and siloed in business and being pushed to grow, build resilience, and collaborate. 

I challenge you to commit to taking one concrete step this month to enhance your network. 

You won’t be sorry!

Your Friend and Coach, 

Angie M. Callen, CERW, CPCC, CPRW