When Creating Your Professional Network, Do Not Forget to “disconnect the Network”
Building a real professional network is a valuable way to get ahead, and you can do it without being sloppy . One of the key ways to do this is: don’t just “communicate” with people above you.
As the business blog Entrepreneur points out, many people only try to connect with other professionals who are above them in the industry. People with more money, higher positions, or better resources. While this is all well and good, neglecting people of your level (or below!) Can be a missed opportunity. After all, not everyone will be forever below your level:
It is often thought that the only way to get ahead is by supporting people with higher titles or more perceived power. While it’s okay to connect with people who have advanced further in their careers, keep in mind that it’s also beneficial to meet people in all directions of your career path: down, horizontally, and up.
Thinking of the people “below” you is not the best way to build relationships anyway, but it’s especially important to remember that working with people at all levels in your industry can be good. Maybe you can call someone later to work with you on the project. Maybe in the future, someone you thought was not very useful to your career will take on a much higher position. By treating people at all levels as respectable contacts, rather than just trying to reach out to them, you can also empower yourself.
9 Networking Mistakes That Damage Your Reputation | Businessman