Map your network

Start with a blank sheet of paper and build it with MyExecLoop

You have made the mental leap and you are going to welcome networking into your life. By now you have built a brilliant pitch to practice and the next step is to map out who you are going to speak to.

Step one:

Forget everything that you have been told about building a network. All in the bin. Whilst listening to other people’s experiences can help guide how you define your network strategy; your technique is unique to you.  It needs to feel natural and in tune with your personality.

Step two:   

For simplicity I define networks into two categories, Personal and Professional.  Use your blank sheet of paper or spreadsheet to start making a list of people who fall into these categories.

Personal:

Go back through your career and think of anyone that you have worked with, for or hired that you like, respect and most importantly would remember you. Do not limit this list to just your operational area or job function. Think of people across the operational board*, HR, IT, Operations, NED, Chair etc. You should be able to get to ten people easily.

Professional:

Reflect on your career and think of anyone you have engaged or paid to provide professional services either for you personally, or your company. Lawyers, Auditors, Bank Relationship Managers, Corporate Financiers, NOMADs, Analysts, Private Equity or Venture Capital investors etc. You should be able to get to ten people easily.