If you’re looking for a vote of confidence or reassurance to reach out to connect in your career, even if it’s with someone who has a wider breadth and more robust depth to their experience, or they’re senior in role, or decades further along in their career, this is it.
I recently noticed someone who interacted with a post I shared on Linkedin. She works for an organization I’m particularly fond of – one that I’ve mentored with, donated to, and referenced many times in my trainings and career development book, KNOCK. She has a senior position at this organization, and as I looked further into her background, professional experience, and current responsibilities on Linkedin and her organization’s website, I found myself in admiration, and intimidation.
But, I didn’t let my fear hold me back.
I thought this might be a great opportunity to reach out and connect as I saw value in the work she was doing, and she found something that resonated with mine.
I had some ideas about how we might be able to support each others’ work so I thought I’d like to “knock” and “open the door” with her. Through my research, I noticed several Commonalities, including similar values and work missions, and mutual contacts. I used the principles from my career connections framework, The Knock Method, of ‘Prepare to Connect’ by doing research to understand and ‘Know my topic and my contact’ up front (the first ‘K’ in KNOCK), and Commonality (the “C” in KNOCK). As I continued my research, it became clear that if we ended up connecting, there would be mutual value – at minimum an inspiring conversation, and at maximum, we’d uncover ways to support each other and even team up to make a greater impact, together (this is the idea upon which The Knock Method was built).
What Happened When I “Knocked”?
I took a chance (but felt more confident and prepared having done my research up front) and reached out via a message on Linkedin (where she had interacted with my article). Sure enough, she responded right away, and set up time to meet the following week.
When we met, we covered all kinds of topics relevant to our work and some even a bit personal. We uncovered ways we could support each other, and left the door open to continue the conversation to explore and uncover yet-to-be-determined partnership opportunities. I thanked her several times during the conversation for making time for me, and suggested that she had many more, and higher priority, tasks to tackle, and that meeting with me was likely not one of them.
What she said next, put me in back my place:
“Thank YOU for reaching out. I know you likely reach out to many organizations, and I’m so grateful that you took the time to reach out to me at ours.” (She wasn’t wrong, and she could tell that the way I prepared and the energy I spent to connect specifically with her and her organization was thoughtful and in-depth. This couldn’t possibly take place with tens of hundreds of organizations, and it doesn’t–I focus on quality, not quantity and spend the effort where it counts, which is the basis of The Knock Method.)
Here I was, assuming that this amazing leader’s priorities didn’t include spending time with me, and here she was acknowledging that by reaching out intentionally, we stand out and are worthy of their time. She likely gets lots of outreach, and probably has to sift through to find the messages and intents that are genuine. And, she acknowledged that, like her, time is limited and precious. We have in our power the ability to research, invest time up front, and decide where we spend our time and who we spend it with. And, she thanked me for it.
Back to the Pages of KNOCK
As soon as this happened, I was reminded of a section in my career communications and leadership development book, KNOCK: How to Open Doors and Build Career Relationships that Matter, in the second introductory chapter: How Do You Feel When You Knock?
Here’s the question that often comes up in my career and leadership development workshops and training programs when confidence is weak and doubt is high:
Why would someone with significantly more experience meet with me?
What can I bring to the table?
And, the answer is:
“Let go of this doubt that those who are a few—or many—steps ahead in their career wouldn’t take the time for a productive conversation. This can and does happen, but only when you help the other person to help you. Make it easy for them to meet with you. Go out of your way so they don’t have to. Think of ways to help a leader you’re looking to connect with.”
(If you’re looking for additional confidence boosts and advice to squash that doubt that creeps in to reference any time you need to in your career, pick up a copy of my book, KNOCK).
After our call, I sent a thank you and follow up email recapping some of the topics and next steps we covered. I also shared several resources that I had mentioned during our conversation that I thought could help her with her current challenges and work.
I had ‘Prepared to Connect’, I invested in the relationship with her and her organization up front (part of the “O” in KNOCK – “Own It”), I uncovered Commonality to open the door and make the conversation more familiar and productive, and I expressed gratitude and continued to give to the relationship, keeping the door open (the 2nd “K” in KNOCK: Keep Giving, Practice Generosity and Gratitude”).
This new, rich, high-quality career connection emerged by using the 5 steps in The Knock Method and as this leader reminded me, there was mutual value – she gained new ideas, a new person in her professional network that’s a supporter of her and her organization, and possibly new partnership opportunities.
So, next time you wonder if you should reach out to a career connection to open the door…do it! With intention, preparation, and investment in the relationship up front, you have a stronger springboard from which to grow your partnership and impact.
Would you like to learn how to put The Knock Method into practice with your career connections as you build your meaningful career and your professional network?
For Students, Professionals, and Leaders Building Your Meaningful Career
Explore my relationship-based career coaching, and resume or cover letter editing. Submit a coaching request form, grab a copy of my career development bestseller, KNOCK: How to Open Doors and Build Career Relationships that Matter, download free career resources, or schedule a call to learn more about how to bring The Knock Method to your career communications – with mentors, managers, colleagues, customers, partners, and new contacts on your job search or career journey.
For Companies, Teams, Nonprofits, Careers Services, and Employers
Would you like to help your student groups, teams, and employees learn the 5 step framework for building high-quality, mutually-valuable, long-term, positive career relationships to increase their fulfillment and wellbeing at work, while growing their meaningful careers?
Schedule a consult to explore partnering to deliver a career, talent, or leadership development workshop or training program including Building High Quality Career Relationships to boost connection and collaboration at work, and empower your teams to “knock” and reach out to build new partnerships that make an impact.