Keeping an active professional network is especially important for those of us ever wanting to engage in meaningful work outside the home. However, it can be challenging.
I can vividly recall the overwhelming feeling of angst, on a particularly hot August afternoon in 2011, as I was switching gears to dress in professional clothes and drive across town in rush hour traffic. I was co-hosting the inaugural networking event for the Penn Law Alumni Club of Colorado. When planning the event months before, I appreciated the opportunity to bring together such an accomplished group from my alma mater. However, the reality, of the long summer days with full-time caregiving of our three sons in addition to managing my contract work, was exhausting. I felt absolutely no motivation to switch gears for an evening of networking.
As usual, once I arrived and engaged, I enjoyed meeting many alumni in visible positions in my community. Then, just as I was about to head home, a fellow alumna stopped me and asked if I would be willing to chat more, so we exchanged contact information and followed-up after the event. Yes, you guessed it, that fellow alumna was Cindy Chang Mahlberg, my current business partner and fellow Wixii-in-Chief. In hindsight, attending that alumni event was pivotal in launching me into the next phase of my work-life mix.
While most professional networking activities do not lead directly to a life-changing connection or new opportunity, I have learned that it is the commitment to keeping a professional network alive that ultimately pays off. In this week’s Wixii Reads, lack of planning for re-entry professional life after time off, including allowing professional networks to languish, presents women a significant hurdle to clear after years off raising children. Writer Lisa Belkin’s provides insight: “Perhaps the biggest lesson from the women who opted out and are having trouble getting back in is “not always having an eye” on their return. All of them saw it as a pause, not a stop, but if you want to come back, you have to plan for that when you leave. You can’t just hope it’s going to happen or you are certainly not going to be as successful if you just hope it’s going to happen.”
There is no time like the present, so let us each take steps to expand and deepen our professional networks to allow for more opportunities and options.
(1) Make It a Point to Attend an Event of Interest at Least Once per Quarter: The goal here is to be consistent in keeping your professional identity and accessibility alive. Set a goal for yourself to attend at least one event per quarter so that you can maintain and develop your professional relationships. Be creative. This event need not be a traditional networking mixer with strangers at a bar—look for interesting opportunities through your alumni networks, former professional associations, local community groups or the like. Consider attending a seminar or lecture, joining a discussion or volunteering alongside other like-minded people.
(2) Connect with at least One Person and Follow-up with That Person to Continue the Conversation: Your second goal is to genuinely connect with at least one person at the event. This means engaging in an authentic conversation and finding common interests so that you may continue the conversation. You do not need a destination for the connection, but rather see the opportunity as simply expanding your network. Further, explore ways that you may help that person realize his or her goals—by making yourself a resource to someone, you pave the way for genuine and continued relationships. Once you have established the connection, the key step is to follow up, even in a small way, to keep your professional network active and growing.
(3) Make the Opportunities Count: Recognize that opportunity and access beget opportunity and access. Nearly two years ago, a friend invited me and several others to attend the lectures hosted by an educated and worldly group of women. The commitment was small but the content was fascinating, as well the bonus of having access to such accomplished women. I was the only one who followed up on the invite and attended the lectures regularly. Just this past weekend, I was asked to join the governing board of the group. I received a big payout for putting in just 4 mornings over the last two years. Your third goal is to pick quality events rather than attending a quantity of events. To maximize your time, when selecting an event be sure to consider both the topic and the audience and know your goal. We want to use our most precious resource, time, efficiently.
Our featured Wixii, Lauren Sveen, reiterates the importance of maintaining strong professional networks through the seasons of mixing work and family life. Recently, Lauren successfully embarked on a new business venture as President of Mom Corps Denver, a professional-level talent acquisition firm. Lauren advises, “I took for granted the professional network I had built-up in NY and CT, and did not do an adequate job of maintaining that when I moved to Colorado and stopped working. It was therefore very hard for me to step back in when I was ready. My advice is to never stop working on your professional network, no matter what life stage you are in. ”
Breaks in our careers do not need to devastate our long term professional opportunities, if we do some pre-planning for re-entry. This planning should include keeping our professional identity and access alive through the networks in which we remain invested. Each day, I am reminded that having kept “in touch,” especially in the years when my professional career took a back seat to my mothering role, made my transition back into a fuller professional role smoother and more confident. Today, social networks allow us to stay involved in a less time consuming manner. Please join our conversation by sharing your experiences and tips in staying networked. We would love to hear from you.
