Building Relationships for Career Advancement

The best promotions don't go to the most talented people. I’ve worked with thousands of professionals in my career. If there’s anything I’ve noticed after a decade in tech, it’s the fact that the promotions and high-visibility projects go to those with advocates. Here are the key reasons why advocates are essential for career growth (and some practical tips to gain and nurture them) 🔵 Advocates amplify your visibility. ↳ They talk about your achievements to others. This spreads your name and work beyond your immediate circle. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: If you’re a heads down person like me, it’s time to lift your head up to build relationships with colleagues and mentors who can vouch for your skills and contributions. 🔵 Advocates provide opportunities. ↳ They recommend you for projects and roles. This opens doors that you might not even know exist. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Show your value consistently so that advocates feel confident in recommending you. 🔵 Advocates build your credibility. ↳ They lend their reputation to yours. This enhances your professional standing and trustworthiness. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Maintain integrity and professionalism to ensure advocates are proud to support you. 🔵 Advocates ensure your efforts are recognized. ↳ They make sure your hard work is seen by decision-makers.This leads to promotions and career advancement. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Document your achievements and share them with your advocates regularly. Bonus: 🔵 Advocates help you build a network. ↳ They introduce you to influential people. This expands your professional connections and opportunities. 𝗧𝗶𝗽: Your network is one of the most valuable things you’ll take with you in your career. Don’t let these opportunities go to waste! Seize the opportunity to build strong advocates and supercharge your career in the final months of 2024. If you’re not sure where to find your first advocate, try building a good relationship with your manager. Here’s my FREE LinkedIn Learning Course that can help you turn your managers into your #1 advocates: https://lnkd.in/gPXXNckd 💬 What are your obstacles when it comes to finding advocates at work?

I received a call yesterday from a good friend, an executive director at a thriving law firm.  We’ve known each other for years and while we ended up discussing business, it started my wheels thinking about relationships and how they build a business in professional services. After years of focusing the best marketing techniques in professional services, I always revisit one theme. Building strong relationships is key to developing a firm, and growing a practice. While having excellent skills will always be table stakes, the strength of a relationships is also an essential component. One thing is clear: it's all about the relationships we as individuals build and nurture. Here are five tips to strengthen those connections that matter to you. 💡 1.    Lead with Empathy Understanding what your clients or prospects are going through is crucial. It's not just about the business side—it's about seeing the bigger picture of their challenges and successes. When you truly empathize with others, it deepens trust and connection. 💡 2.    Find Common Ground We all have shared experiences—whether it's career paths, mutual interests, or personal milestones. Finding those commonalities can make the conversation more comfortable and genuine, helping to build a solid foundation for the relationship. 💡 3.   Care About Their Success It's not enough to focus solely on your own goals. You have to genuinely care about the other person's business, and that means understanding their industry, their pressures, and their needs. 💡 4.   Show Interest In-Between the Transaction A relationship built solely on a deal or a single litigation (even if the dollars are significant) is transactional, generally with a beginning and an end. Show interest in their life outside of work, and stay in touch with them in-between matters. 💡5.  It’s a Long Game Building strong relationships doesn’t happen overnight and there is no magical system that works the same for everyone. Follow up regularly, stay in touch, and show you’re consistently thinking of them. Relationships need nurturing, and this level of attention proves that you’re not just there for a quick win—you’re in it to support them for the long haul. Relationships are at the core of everything—whether you’re building a practice or growing a larger business.

Networking is a long-term investment, not a short-term solution. This is especially true in seasons of career change. Whether you're pivoting into a new industry or moving into a new role within your company, the relationships you’ve built (or neglected) will either accelerate or slow you down. Here’s what I’ve learned: 1. The best time to network is before you need anything. When your only message is “I’m job searching,” it can feel transactional. Build the relationship first. The opportunities will follow. 2. Dormant ties are gold. That former colleague, supervisor, or classmate you haven’t spoken to in years? They might be the missing link to your next move. 3. Internal networking matters too. Looking to grow where you are? Schedule that coffee chat with someone in a different department or leadership role. Visibility inside your company opens doors. 4. Not all connections need to be strategic. Some of the most impactful introductions come from casual, everyday conversations. Stay open. Be human. Be curious. 5. Consistency beats intensity. One thoughtful message or interaction each week is more powerful than a burst of activity and burnout. 6. Your personal brand sets the tone. When people know what you’re about, they know how to refer you, champion you, or recommend you for something aligned. 7. Networking is about planting seeds. Some conversations will bloom in weeks. Others will take years. Both are worth the effort. Start now. Remain visible. Nurture your relationships. It pays off when you least expect it! #SheLeadsBeautifully 🌷 #Networking #CareerCoach #CareerDevelopmentTrainer #RelationshipBuilding

I'm going to tell you a secret. 💬 Advancing your career isn't solely about individual performance; it's about strategically positioning yourself within your organization's ecosystem. While personal achievements are important, aligning your contributions with the success of others, especially executives, can significantly accelerate your career trajectory. A mentor/sponsor once told me that once I understood "the system" my career would take off. I have never forgotten this discussion, because he also said there will be a time when he would end up reporting to me. At the time, I was a Senior Product Manager, and he was a EVP in Azure. I dismissed it as unnecessary flattery, and literally told him to stop blowing smoke up my a$%. 🤭 Over time, I came to realize that career advancement often hinges on how well you can support and elevate others, particularly those in influential positions. Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE believer in individual recognition for hard work, and impact but when it comes to large Corporations, that just doesn't guarantee new opportunities or promotions. Managers typically have limited resources for bonuses and promotions and must advocate for their team members amidst many others within a function, an organization and then a enterprise. If your team, and your manager are your only advocates it's a uphill battle. To truly advance, you need to advocate for yourself. This involves engaging with your manager's peers understanding how your work aligns with their objectives, their choke points and how you might deliver results that contribute to their success. Expanding this approach to include skip-level managers and their peers can further enhance your visibility and influence. When it comes to managing my own team, I have always been extremely transparent about how the system works. Who we need to influence, where I see impact they can bring and help create relationships. A good leader will help you understand the system, and learn to apply it to your own success story. Once I adopted this strategy the following happened for me. ✔️Every role I have had in the last 14 years were explicitly made for me. ✔️I shifted from a Sr. Product / Program Manager to a Chief Data & AI Officer in 8 years. ✔️My last five promotions were all out-of-cycle, with C-suite executives advocating, and sponsoring my impact. This included one promotion where I skipped two levels, requiring CEO approval. Research supports the importance of self-advocacy in career advancement. A study published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology found that self-assertive efficacy positively influences workplace advocacy behavior, which in turn affects career satisfaction and organizational rewards growth. https://lnkd.in/g9g_d9Pq? #careerdevelopment #promotions #leadership #advocate #system #corporations #career #growth #secret #datafam #ai #awareness #network #influence #layoffs #opportunities

The most important career advice I NEVER got? Relationships unlock opportunity. The difference between professionals who plateau and those who thrive often comes down to one thing: the strength of their networks. Easier said than done. Even if I had understood this, I would have needed guidance on HOW to do it. Real network-building requires intention, generosity, and authentic human connection. After years of trial and error, I've identified 20 strategies that consistently create powerful professional relationships. Here are 10. The rest are in the visual. 1. Practice the 5-minute favor rule ↳ When meeting someone new, ask yourself, "What can I do in 5 minutes that would meaningfully help this person?" ↳ Example: Send a relevant article or make a quick introduction. 2. Follow the 2:1 giving ratio ↳ Provide value at least twice before asking for anything. ↳ Example: Share and comment meaningfully on their LinkedIn posts. 3. Be 'interested, not interesting' ↳ Focus conversations on the other person rather than trying to impress. ↳ Example: Ask follow-up questions about their challenges rather than discussing your own achievements. 4. Leverage commonality ↳ Find unexpected shared interests beyond work. ↳ Example: Discovering you both enjoy pottery or hiking specific trails creates stronger bonds than just industry connections. 5. Practice conversational generosity ↳ Introduce people to others in group settings. ↳ Example: "Sarah, you should meet Alex. You're both working on similar AI ethics challenges." 6. Make specific, actionable asks ↳ Be clear about what you need. ↳ Example: "Would you be willing to review my presentation deck for 15 minutes this week?" 7. Connect with 'dormant ties' ↳ Reconnect with valuable past connections. ↳ Example: Reach out to former colleagues and share specific memories of working together. 8. Diversify your network ↳ Intentionally connect with people outside your immediate field. ↳ Example: A finance professional joining a technology meetup to gain fresh perspectives. 9. Maintain a personal board of directors ↳ Cultivate relationships with 5-7 trusted advisors. ↳ Example: Monthly check-ins with mentors who provide different perspectives on your career decisions. 10. Adopt the sweat equity approach ↳ Volunteer for industry organizations or committees. ↳ Example: Join the planning committee for a conference to create natural connections with speakers and organizers. The most valuable asset in your career isn't your degree, certifications, or even your experience It's the web of relationships you thoughtfully build along the way. What are your successful relationship building tactics? ♻️ Repost to share these ideas with your network. 👉Follow me Stephanie Eidelman (Meisel) for more ideas about how to enhance your network and your career. 📫 Subscribe to Women in Consumer Finance to access all of our carousels, cheat sheets, and other content. (https://hubs.la/Q03dY9_n0)