Feb 6Liked by Jory Des Jardins, Elisa Camahort Page
Thank you for sharing the post on "The most valuable currency in your career is (still) who you know." Your insights resonate well, highlighting the reality of the professional landscape. The significance of networking, often treated as a somewhat hidden advantage, becomes crucial, especially for those who, despite their hard work and talent, can benefit from the right connections. Acknowledging and embracing this reality seems more constructive than denying it. I think you’re right then, that pretending it doesn’t exist is a mistake. We need to not only accept it (if that’s the system we’re currently (still) in,) but embrace it and find new ways to use it and make it a positive. Thank you for this insightful piece.
Thanks Calliope, I think for most of my career those of us who weren’t in the “old boys club” (rightfully) criticized its misuse to advance mediocrity over a change in the old guard, and maybe we even talked about forming a girls club. But as in most things I would love to de-gender and de-mystify the function networks perform, and encourage everyone to consider it a top career skill available to us all, trainable in us all.
Hard agree about the vital importance of investing in and nurturing business networks, at every stage of career.
Another thought I have on this connects to Grants point about agility - don't assume the networks that got you here, will get you there....
I am noticing how important it is for me to to be intentional about the networks that will support me and I can support as a non executive board member/Chair compared to being a board consultant/exec coach.
Something I've always noted throughout my career is that it's important to keep your connections current with who you are now, not just who you are when you worked with them. Some of my earliest colleagues and mentors are still connections and could be references today, but only because they know who I've become over the past 20 years, not just how awesome I was back then.
Feb 6Liked by Jory Des Jardins, Elisa Camahort Page
As for me I super love mansplaining about my career! (No disrespect to Adam Grant who I, too, admire and read.) But I'm with you - it has always been the "soft" skills of relationship building, consensus building, morale building that have propelled me in my career. (An aside - "soft" as if those aren't also hard work). I have the hard skills as well, and decades of experience, but anyone can garner those. It's the relationships that do the work and, I would argue, provide the meaning.
Reminded me of a story: A friend recently posted to a group chat of neighborhood mom-friends that her 23-year-old daughter was job hunting and looking for a very specific type of contact/role. Within 15 minutes three women had connected her to someone relevant. I hope that's a lesson this young woman carries forward.
That's a great story about connections, but also about generosity. About being interested in a space where all boats can rise and where it's not pie where more for you means less for me. And...let me think of another over-used phrase, just a sec... 😹
I can still hear my mom back in 1981 when I was junior in high school: "Susan, it's not what you know, it's who you know." And all these years later, it's the god's honest truth.
Thank you for sharing the post on "The most valuable currency in your career is (still) who you know." Your insights resonate well, highlighting the reality of the professional landscape. The significance of networking, often treated as a somewhat hidden advantage, becomes crucial, especially for those who, despite their hard work and talent, can benefit from the right connections. Acknowledging and embracing this reality seems more constructive than denying it. I think you’re right then, that pretending it doesn’t exist is a mistake. We need to not only accept it (if that’s the system we’re currently (still) in,) but embrace it and find new ways to use it and make it a positive. Thank you for this insightful piece.
Thanks Calliope, I think for most of my career those of us who weren’t in the “old boys club” (rightfully) criticized its misuse to advance mediocrity over a change in the old guard, and maybe we even talked about forming a girls club. But as in most things I would love to de-gender and de-mystify the function networks perform, and encourage everyone to consider it a top career skill available to us all, trainable in us all.
Hard agree about the vital importance of investing in and nurturing business networks, at every stage of career.
Another thought I have on this connects to Grants point about agility - don't assume the networks that got you here, will get you there....
I am noticing how important it is for me to to be intentional about the networks that will support me and I can support as a non executive board member/Chair compared to being a board consultant/exec coach.
Thanks for sharing your thinking
That is SUCH a great point, Sarah.
Something I've always noted throughout my career is that it's important to keep your connections current with who you are now, not just who you are when you worked with them. Some of my earliest colleagues and mentors are still connections and could be references today, but only because they know who I've become over the past 20 years, not just how awesome I was back then.
As for me I super love mansplaining about my career! (No disrespect to Adam Grant who I, too, admire and read.) But I'm with you - it has always been the "soft" skills of relationship building, consensus building, morale building that have propelled me in my career. (An aside - "soft" as if those aren't also hard work). I have the hard skills as well, and decades of experience, but anyone can garner those. It's the relationships that do the work and, I would argue, provide the meaning.
Reminded me of a story: A friend recently posted to a group chat of neighborhood mom-friends that her 23-year-old daughter was job hunting and looking for a very specific type of contact/role. Within 15 minutes three women had connected her to someone relevant. I hope that's a lesson this young woman carries forward.
That's a great story about connections, but also about generosity. About being interested in a space where all boats can rise and where it's not pie where more for you means less for me. And...let me think of another over-used phrase, just a sec... 😹
I can still hear my mom back in 1981 when I was junior in high school: "Susan, it's not what you know, it's who you know." And all these years later, it's the god's honest truth.
It sure is
And ps - this is why I wrote my book ;)
Oh, you mean this wonderful book?
https://www.thelostartofconnecting.com/