Debbie Pask and I have joined forces to support you with a series of career development webinars ‘In Conversation with Ellie and Debs’ comprising practical advice in short, engaging sessions you can join live or watch later, sharing actionable tips on topics that will help you in your career. We both work with senior leaders, especially – but not exclusively – in HR. We pride ourselves on our values driven approach and have (gulp) 60 years of combined experience in leadership transition as specialists in Executive Search and Career Development Coaching.
This blog brings you the highlights from the first webinar:
Thrive More In Your Career: Three Different Ways To Use Your Professional Relationships.
We know you know intellectually it is important to build and maintain your professional network. But the realities of busy jobs and wider commitments take over and it often goes to the bottom of the list. It is important, but never urgent. One of the things we hear most in our work is ‘I wish I had kept in touch with my network’ closely followed by ‘I hate networking and can’t do it’.
Here are three strategies to help:
1 – Reframe networking: Start with a focus on keeping in touch with existing contacts instead of panicking about networking with strangers.
- Tip: Be strategic. Reflect on your future aspirations, define your goals and think consciously about who from your past will be important to you on your future journey.
- Tip: Be proactive. Don’t wait until you need help before reaching out to people. Lead with giving before taking and invest in relationships before asking people for favours. Think about the emotional piggy bank concept; you have to pay in before you can withdraw.
- Tip: When someone comes into your mind, message them right away. This is something that Debs and I both do. A similar concept to ‘Act on generous impulses right away’ is talked about in Four Thousand Weeks – a great book.
- Tip: Go to the bottom of your LinkedIn direct messages and look who you owe a message to. Get in touch with those that are still relevant. Don’t ask for anything, just check in and see how they are doing (and if needed, apologise for not replying to their message from years ago!)
- Tip: Schedule time for keeping in touch. Put a recurring appointment in your work calendar. If you have to move it, move it, but don’t delete it. For more on this head to my earlier blog
2 – Build your own advisory board. Move from the idea of one mentor, to micro mentoring and using people’s specific experience.
Back in the nineties Jim Collins described a personal board of directors of seven people you deeply respect and would not want to let down, like a set of tribal elders that you turn to for guidance at times of ethical dilemma, life transitions, and difficult choices. In 2010 Priscilla Claman wrote about creating a board of directors for your career, a group of people you consult regularly to get advice and feedback. She said there’s no need inform each person their status as a board member, but you need to select the right people and stay in touch.
More recently we’ve been enjoying King and Scott’s book Who is in your Personal Boardroom and its advice to diversify the people you go to for advice and guidance, consciously including individuals from different age groups, ethnicities, genders, geographies, hierarchical levels and career backgrounds. They suggest 12 different roles including people who will:
- CHALLENGE you and help you see your blind spots
- Be an INFLUENCER or AMBASSADOR for you and advocate for you
- INSPIRE you
- Be the EXPERT on areas you don’t know enough about
- Give you the voice of your CUSTOMER
- Be the NERVE GIVER who will help strengthen your resolve
- ANCHOR you and hold you to account for the balance between your work and the rest of your life.
3 – Articulate your goals and be specific with asks
Remember, just because someone knows you doesn’t mean they know what you are looking for in your career. Often people’s knowledge of us is out of date (if they ever really knew in detail what you do.)
This simple yet powerful idea comes from the book Search in Plain Sight by Somer Hackley, the US Headhunter. It is a way to be remembered for certain opportunities. It needs to be specific – it’s not enough just to say ‘think of me when you need a HR Director’.
For example, if you want to get your first Trustee role, you might say ‘Think of me when you hear of any children’s charities hiring for Trustees in the Midlands, especially when they need an expert in Recruitment and Brand Building.’
Think of Debs when you need an Executive Search expert to hire CPOs and HR leaders.
Think of Ellie when you need an executive Career Expert for speaking, coaching or leadership workshops.
- Tip: Include it on your LinkedIn ‘About’ summary section. People aren’t psychic. If you don’t put it out there, you aren’t going to be approached about the things you aspire to do.
- Tip: Be brave. It isn’t naturally comfortable for most people so it does require a degree of bravery – you have to put yourself out there. Start small. But start!
- Tip: Be specific with requests. Once you have invested in your emotional piggy bank and are going to reach out to someone to ask a favour, be really clear about how they can help. Smaller specific asks are easier for people to help with.
Head here if you would like to watch the full webinar (35 minutes)
If you aren’t already, please connect with us both on LinkedIn and mention that you read this article:
Ellie https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellierichpoole/
Debs https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiepask/
Do let us know any future career development topics you’d be interested in.
More about us:
Debbie Pask – the Headhunter:
-
Over 35 years of experience in Executive Search and assessment
-
Deep understanding of HR and senior leadership talent markets across various industries
-
Reputation for building sustainable, trusted relationships with clients and candidates
Ellie Rich-Poole – The Career Coach:
-
Founded her business in 2016 as a Career Development Coach. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice for Careers and one of London’s Top 15 Coaches
-
Over 25 years of experience in HR and Talent, including 11 years as a Partner in Executive Search
-
ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with certifications in Insights Discovery and Strengths Profile