The truth is, professional friends come and go. Especially the ones that we meet at work. Sometimes we lose connection after we resign. Sometimes things change in terms of occupational levels, status and location. That is fine. If a professional friendship has played its role in helping you to grow, then it may be time to part ways. Sometimes we do meet people outside our workplaces that resonate with us. A professional friendship with someone like that will most likely last because it is not based on the common workplace but on the common profession.
Professional friendships are important because they open up a whole new world for you. You can get information that could help you to grow your career and gain access to other opportunities that you may not be aware of. So, it is important to build such friendships and nurture them. Where does one start. Here are 3 easy steps:
Step 1: No tricks! Be very direct. You would like to connect because you are looking to build a professional network with like minded people. You like their profile. You like their thinking. No funny tricks to get people to respond because they can see that. I did this for many years and it worked like magic. You will get a “no” here and there, but that is life.
Step 2: Make time to chat to them at least once a month. For me preferably, not more than 3 times a month. You cannot be sending them Memes 3 times a day. It is not that kind of party. When you engage, keep it industry related. Hack: Try to come up with new industry information.
Step 3: Always meet in environments where you can chat. Remember, that is the purpose of that friendship. You are not there to party together. You do not need to be in loud places. Your purpose is to share and grow. Meet at networking events. Meet at co-working spaces. Attend industry conferences together.
Remember, who you know in the industry counts a lot. So, making professional friendships is not for aesthetics. It is for career progression.
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