I recently attended a program with a panel of very successful women attorneys who shared their personal experiences about how they were able to get to the top positions each of them held. Though they practiced in different areas of the law, and in different environments (law firm, in house, and judicial), each of them felt that networking and relationships were key components leading to their current success. In telling her personal story, one of them added: “you can’t wait to build the bridge until you need to cross the river”.
And this was so true, that I wanted to remind my readers that the best time to network is when you don’t need to network, when you don’t need anything, when you’re not asking for something, when you can help the other person in some way. Think of it as a networking bank account – it’s a lot easier to make withdrawals if you’ve made a few deposits.
Most of us have an intellectual understanding of the importance of networking and relationships to our career. But our busy-lawyer lives happen and networking often moves to the bottom of our to do list. Until one day we look up and realize there isn’t enough work to make our hours or pay the rent and (OMG!) we have nothing in the pipeline. Until one day we look up and realize that (OMG!) our company is about to be acquired and our job is in jeopardy.
Allocate time for networking and building relationships, both internal and external. Identify and then prioritize your contacts so that you spend your networking time wisely. Most importantly, set up a networking system that works for you so that you can easily network, even when you get busy.
Build your bridge before you need to cross the river. The best time to network is now.
