I often encourage new and emerging leaders to be purposeful in building relationships with people in departments that are adjacent to theirs.
But as you advance in your leadership career, you’ll need to take your relationship building a step further. Sure, as you move up or around in the org chart, you’ll find different departments adjacent to you, with new opportunities to connect to new people. But even those won’t be enough to maximize your success as you gain more responsibility.
Your ability to think creatively and uncover new insights, solutions, and opportunities will increasingly benefit from connecting with people who are further removed from your specific challenges.
Who should you be recruiting for your growing personal network? Look for people who are solving similar problems in different companies or even different industries. Or consider people who are solving completely different kinds of problems in similar companies. Consider establishing a habit of connecting with new people that you meet in professional organizations, industry gatherings, or even cultural or community events.
Finally, for an even more targeted set of connections, consider joining a mastermind or group coaching program or contract with a private leadership coach like me.
If you’re ready to grow your network and upgrade your peer group, let’s talk. Visit stevedwire.com/talk to start the conversation.
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