WORK YOUR CONTACTS!
by Ellen Lubin-Sherman
Whether you’re a recent graduate, looking to advance in your company, or trying to widen your social network, you need to work your list of contacts as the first stage in your battle plan. What’s my definition of “contact?” Anyone who might help you achieve your goal.
Here’s the funny thing about contacts. Most people think of a “contact” as someone with power and authority, with hiring and firing status. However, a contact might be your former roommate who you still remember with fondness, your former SAT coach whose son is a mucky muck at NBC News, or your neighbor who moved to Washington, D.C. to take a job with a Senator.
In fact, contacts are everyday people that made an impression on you because of their sharp mind, connectedness or empathy. Because most relationships are reciprocal, you need to assume that you made a positive impression un your contact.
Open your address book. Ask your mother for the name of your former neighbor who now works for a U.S. Senator. Broadcast your openness to new insights or direction by writing an e-mail or short note to every one of your contacts and let them know what you’re doing and where you’d like to go. You might also pick up the call and schedule a ten- minute meeting.
Working your contacts is a lot like dating; and as we know, some of our best dates came from a personal introduction. Don’t worry about asking people for a favor because this makes them feel good about changing someone’s life. Ask away. Just don’t be too disappointed if they can’t help you. That’s a small risk you have to take.
Small gestures count. Make it a habit to keep up with people who you admire and send them a note when it’s appropriate. If someone does you a favor, go out of your way to acknowledge it. If a small gift makes sense, send one. We don’t acknowledge one another nearly enough – take every opportunity to let someone know how much you appreciate their thoughtfulness.
Opportunity doesn’t knock on unmarked doors. Make sure your door is marked for success clearly by being ready for capriciousness. Leave the house looking like a zillion dollars and answer “fabulous” when someone inquires about what you’re up to. Being enthusiastic is a turn-on and so is being engaged and plugged in to culture, life and current events. Use every opportunity – waiting for your Vente decaf, picking up your dry cleaning, or having dinner alone at the sushi bar – to invite people in to your ever-expanding list of contacts.
If there’s one secret to having a full and interesting life, it’s having connections – or, if you will, contacts.
Ellen Lubin-Sherman, president of LAUNCH, Inc. (Short Hills, NJ), is a marketing and communication coach with 20 years experience packaging and launching new products and brands into the marketplace. You can reach her at (973) 564-6083, e-mail [email protected], or Web site: www.launchforward.com.