How Your Network Can Help You Be Better at Your Job

How Your Network Can Help You Be Better at Your JobHow Your Network Can Help You Be Better at Your JobStaying in touch with your network isnt easy- from finding reasons to drop people a line to finding the time to actually do it, its no wonder many of us put it off until its essential (i.e., when were job hunting).But really, if you only reach out to people during times of career transition, youre wasting a valuable resource for your professional development. Read on for five easy ways your contacts can help you excel at your current gig- and how to reach out the right way.You Need A RoadmapYou Know Someone Whos Been ThereMy former boss gave an amazing speech on the occasion of leaving our organization, lightened by humorous references to the number of times she Googled how to do something. And while I could (and often do) make use of that option, I also have a better one her. Shes written budgets and strategic plans and gone toe-to-toe with difficult clients. Meaning, when Im starin g down a new or confusing situation, I know she can advise me from a place of experience. Even though shes no longer my boss, shes parte of my network- and shes been willing to help me on numerous occasions.Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind when approaching a contact for advice. First, be armed with a specific pitch that concisely lays out what you need and how much time it will take Would you have an hour in the next week to answer a few questions about writing a budget? versus Can you help me with some budget stuff?Second, do your prep work before the meeting and try to get as far as you can on your own- the last thing you want is to squander the time with FAQs. Third, this cant be an every week (or even an every month) thing. Unless this contact is your mentor, you should reach out once a quarter, max. Need mora help than that? Reach out to anotlageher contact.You Need Expertise (in a Hurry)You Know Someone in a Different FieldYou have a contract that needs lookin g over, and your friend is a lawyer. Or, you need to brush up on your language skills before an upcoming business trip, and your old colleague moonlights as a language tutor. When you need specialized expertise in a pinch, thats a perfect reason to reach out to the people in your network. In some ways, thats exactly what theyre there for.That said, be careful when youre asking someone in your network for a favor- especially if its to help you more quickly or more cheaply than someone youd hire. The key here is to remember that networking is a two-way street. One great option is bartering- i.e., in exchange for the language tutor giving you a crash course before your trip, you offer to revamp his homepage. Another option is asking to be pointed in the right direction If your friend the lawyer cant help you with the contract because itll require sizable revisions, she should still be able to recommend someone who can help you or give you a sense of what hiring a professional may cost. Either way, youll have more information than you began with.You Need Help With an EventYou Know Someone Whos Done it BeforeEvent planning requires a lot of legwork, not the least of which- from sourcing venues to finding quality vendors- is logistical. Imagine how much time you could save speaking with someone who already knew that this venue has a ton of parking and that venue has issue with its air conditioning that this bakery is excellent and that caterer is not.So, if youre tasked with throwing a conference, event, or even a meeting, reach out both formally and informally to your networks. Tell your friend who coordinates events for her job and your friend the recent bride alike that other projects as assigned translates to gala-planning, and youd love their advice. And dont be afraid to post a facebook inc or LinkedIn status asking your contacts if they know any great, local venues (or caterers, or photographers). Youll save tons of time on your search and be moving forward w ith tried and trusted locations and vendors.You Need Honest FeedbackYou Know Someone Who You Trust A young woman I recruited a few years ago recently asked me to beta test me her new site. She was clear in her expectations- she needed honest (brutal, where necessary) feedback before the site was launched- and she knew that friends and family (the people you can hook to beta test because, well, they love you) can be shy when it comes to criticism.I was particularly enthusiastic about helping because of the way she reached out to me. She wrote me a thoughtful email, briefly filling me in on what brought her to the project and clearly expressing what she was trying to do with the site. Moreover, once I agreed to be a beta tester, she responded to every email I sent promptly, thoroughly, and with gratitude. The way she conducted herself through this process not only convinced me to spend hours scouring the site, but also left me with an even higher opinion of her professionalism. By rea ching out, she not only got the help she needed- she deepened her relationship with a contact.You Need Nothing- Right NowYou Know Two People You Can ConnectHave a friend whos looking to start freelancing- and an old colleague who successfully made the switch years ago? A co-worker who needs to hire a temp and a college buddy whos a recruiter? Introducing them is more than just good karma- its good for your career. Yes, networking is all about making connections that will be valuable for you, but sometimes whats most impressive is someone who helps and connects others when theres nothing in it for him or her. And need I mention the fact that when you need an introduction down the road, the people you connected will likely be inclined to return the favor?In these cases, just make koranvers to do a double-opt-in intro, asking each party for his or her permission to make the introduction before you actually do. A simple, Hey, I know youre looking for an extra set of hands- want me to ma ke an intro to my friend the recruiter? works perfectly.Reaching out to your networking is a necessity when youre looking for a job. But even when youre not- dont forget all your connections can do to help you do your job better.