5 Simple Steps to Reconnect with Your Networks

---

Reconnecting with connections you have already established is an ideal way to enhance your networks and potential opportunities.

Just because you haven’t spoken to someone in a while doesn’t mean your relationship is finished! It usually needs to simply be rekindled. And I can’t emphasize enough how now is a good time to concentrate on reaching out to people from your past you may have lost touch with.

You will reap many rewards by restoring contact with these “dormant ties”. Whether it be personal or professional, doing so creates a great impact. You’re tapping into valuable resources of knowledge and improving connections you already have but aren’t utilizing.

Doing so may help you uncover the chance for a partnership on a project or get a lead on how to land your dream career role. There are many opportunities waiting for you! Don’t wait to rebuild your relationships, start today by performing a few tasks.

How do you do it? Follow the five steps below to begin reconnecting with your connections to deepen your relationships and get you on the right track to forming healthy and robust networks.

Step #1: Consider who to reach out to

Through the years—even if you didn’t realize it—you’ve created your own spheres of influence made up of your family, friends, colleagues, those who share in your favorite hobbies and activities, and many more. These are individuals with whom you’ve developed special bonds and really know, like, and trust. And hopefully, they feel the same about you!

Take time to assess the people within your spheres of influence. Then identify up to 5 individuals from each sphere with whom you haven’t spoken to in at least a year. Ideally, you should challenge yourself to go back 5 or even 10 years. Also, consider those who you may not have been close with initially, but now realize how valuable it could be to establish a deeper relationship with them. This should bring your list to about 15-20 people you can begin to reach out to.

Step #2: Assess your value and mindset

Consider the value you can potentially offer each person on your list. Are you an entrepreneur who has built an established and thriving business? Perhaps you can mentor someone from your past who is just starting their own company. Do you know if a dormant tie is looking for a new job? You may be able to facilitate an introduction that can lead to a great career opportunity. Or if you haven’t talked in a while and aren’t sure what they’re up to, just knowing in the back of your mind how worthy you can be to others helps build your confidence when you do reconnect.

It also helps you get in the right mindset. When you’re reestablishing your relationships, you will get out what you put into it. If you’re thinking, “Oh they probably won’t remember me and aren’t going to respond to my messages,” then that’s most likely what will happen. You must approach it optimistically and contribute to achieving a positive outcome.

But you must also accept the fact that some people may not respond, which is OK too! Perhaps they’re simply too busy or involved in other activities.

“Focus attention and energy on making a difference in the lives of others, and success might follow as a by-product.”

Adam Grant

Step #3: Communicate through email

Send an email to identify your reason for reaching out. Be honest in your note! Indicate after some reflection you realize you’ve lost touch with some people you deem important in your life and are making a concerted effort to reconnect with them. Express how you can help with their job search or tell them you’re working on an activity they can benefit from. Or just say how you simply wish to rekindle your relationship. They will appreciate your candor and hopefully not hesitate to respond. For example:

Hi Evan: 

I’ve been doing some thinking about people in my life that have influenced or inspired me in a special way and thought of you. I wish we hadn’t lost touch!

I was wondering do you remember that time when (you can mention a funny story or special activity you share together or something else to trigger their memory in a positive way).

I’d like to have the opportunity for us to catch up; I wanted you to know that I value the relationship we shared and would like to rekindle it. I hope you’ve been doing well and look forward to hearing from you!

You must personalize your message and include something specific that stands out in your mind about them. Try and bring a smile to their face! And always be sure to include your name, email, and phone number in closing so they know how to reach you.

To assist you even further we’ve created the NetWorkWise Guide to Reestablishing Relationships in Your Network. This resource includes email templates to help you craft the right message to reconnect with your contacts. Click here to download!

Step #4: Communicate through other ways

Email isn’t the only way to reconnect with dormant ties; there are other activities you can do that can promote correspondence with someone from your past such as:

• Just pick up the phone and call!
• Set up a video chat
• Send a text
• Engage on social media and/or send a private message
• Carry out The Gratitude Challenge and acknowledge someone you haven’t spoken with recently and highlight how they’ve impacted your success or provided invaluable guidance
• Incorporate The Five-Minute Favor into your networking routine and learn how to pay kindness and encouragement forward to connections from your past
• Provide an endorsement on LinkedIn or promote their business or blog postings through your own social media and marketing channels

Step #5: Follow Up

So many drop the ball when it comes to this! Once you have reconnected don’t be afraid to remind them you don’t want another 10 years to go by before speaking again. This doesn’t mean you must be in contact every week, but if you establish a routine to communicate, your relationship will continue to thrive and be valuable. It could be sending good wishes each year on their birthday or setting up a time to chat every few months. Whatever it is you need to follow through to show you really want to keep in touch with them.

What’s Holding You Back?

Maybe you lack confidence in your previous relationships of picking up where you left off. Perhaps you think people have forgotten about you, or you might be too shy about following up with them. This is normal! But don’t give in to this FEAR – or False Expectations About Reality. You must move on from it, otherwise, you can never rebuild your connections.

The irony is that rekindling a relationship is typically very well received and appreciated. You have probably benefited from your dormant ties without necessarily putting in the time and effort to do so. Now imagine what happens when you actually focus and put energy into building it up. Utilize our Guide to Reestablishing Relationships in Your Network and begin reconnecting today!

Become NetWorkWise Certified

Learn more strategies on how to effectively reconnect and increase your social capital by enrolling in our NetWorkWise Certification Program. Through self-paced micro-courses, downloadable resources, quiz questions and action steps you’ll gain an understanding of the right way to cultivate relationships and nurture expansive networks to empower your success.

Once complete, you receive credentials validating you as an expert in creating world-class connections. I encourage you to sign up today and become a NetWorkWise Certified Professional!

---