Leading Network Colleagues

Each day at recess, I would sit under the jungle gym and cry.

I was a painfully shy kid, and this went on for several days.

One day, a tall boy named Dave walked up to me and asked, “Hey, want to play?”

That recess, we ran around and got grass stains on our jeans. 👖
In middle school, we shared lunch items. 🥪
In high school, Dave got me a job at a golf course where he worked. ⛳
In college, we took turns feeding the plethora of illicit reptiles he hid in our closet. 🐍

I’ve long since ditched my bowl cut hairdo, grass-stained jeans, and ball pythons—yet other people continue to shape my leadership development and experience.

They provide me:

📖 Tips on great books, podcasts, and articles.
🔥 Fresh perspectives on challenges I’m facing.
🏆 Introductions to top talent candidates when I’m hiring.

To round out your leadership abilities, you need to initiate and nurture relationships with leaders outside of your organization.

> Attend a networking event.
> Follow a thought leader on Clubhouse.
> Ask a coworker about somebody they know who is awesome and ask for an introduction.

Don’t be shy—expand your network, and create new opportunities to maximize your leadership ability and impact.