The HBR Work Smart Collection (4 Books)

9 Are You Taking Full Advantage of Your Network?

by Deborah Grayson Riegel

Our networks can serve many different purposes—they can help us understand our goals, land jobs, and explore new career opportunities.

But for me, networking is more than just a means to an end. I like to think about my network as serving three core purposes:

1.  My network provides me with insights, experiences, and perspectives that expand my own knowledge and thinking. This makes me a valuable resource to my colleagues and clients.

2.  My network allows me to help others. While many of us think of our networks as people who can help us, we need to remember that those relationships are a give-and-take. I’ve got plenty of energy, inspiration, connections, resources, ...