Your current network is a treasure trove of opportunities—if you know how to tap into it. Whether it’s reigniting dormant ties, leveraging professional relationships, or even reconnecting with family and friends, the key is to approach these connections with intention and authenticity. Here’s how to make the most of the people you already know.
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Dormant Ties

Dormant ties are people you once knew but have lost touch with over the years. These connections are often overlooked, but they are incredibly valuable in networking. Reconnecting with dormant ties can unlock new ideas and help you tap into broader networks that extend beyond your current circle. Because these relationships already have a foundation of trust, reconnecting is efficient and can lead to fresh opportunities and expanded professional reach that would be harder to achieve through new connections alone.

Reaching out after a long time may feel awkward, but remember – you know these folks! This means there’s probably already a sense of trust and shared experiences, which will makes reconnecting easier.

How to Nurture & Leverage:

• Say Hello: Start small and each out with a simple message—acknowledge the time apart and express a genuine interest in reconnecting. Don’t put too much pressure on this initial outreach – Briefly catch them up on your recent projects and ask about their current endeavors. Show curiosity about what’s new in their life.
• Offer to Help: Suggest a way you could support them, whether it’s sharing insights or offering connections.
• Diversify your network: Your dormant tie has likely grown professionally since you last connected—they may have gained new skills, built new relationships, or advanced in their career. By reconnecting, you can tap into their expanded knowledge and network, giving you fresh insights and access to new opportunities that can help diversify and strengthen your own professional circle.

TAKE ACTION:

Reconnect with 3 dormant ties: Pick 3 people you’ve lost touch with and reach out this week (Bonus points if they have similar professional interests, ties to a company or role you’re interested in, or have knowledge you’d love to learn from!). Send a friendly message expressing genuine interest in catching up—ask what they’ve been up to and share a bit about yourself. Tell them something you’re exploring professionally and mention that you'd love to exchange ideas or hear their perspective.

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Friends and Family

Why They Matter:

Believe it or not, friends and family are an often overlooked part of our professional network. These are your people and they know you best. They may not be in your industry (or even know what you actually do), but they are strong advocates for you and often know people in their own networks who could help.

How to Nurture & Leverage:

• Stay in Touch. Regularly catch up with friends and family, not just socially but also to share your career aspirations and current projects.
• Offer Support. Help them with their goals and projects, too—networking is reciprocal.‍
• Ask for Advice. Use your friends and family as sounding boards for career moves or new ideas.‍
• Seek Other Connections. Ask if they know someone in a field you’re interested in and if they’d be willing to introduce you.

TAKE ACTION

List 3 friends or family members who might have connections in your field of interest. Reach out and ask if they know someone who could offer advice or insights.

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Co-workers

Why They Matter:

You’re already collaborating with them daily. Whether it’s teammates, cross-functional colleagues, or even senior leaders, your coworkers have valuable insights and connections – at your company and beyond. Teammates understand your work best and can advocate for you or introduce you to their networks. Cross-department relationships broaden your skill set and expose you to new areas of the business, opening doors to opportunities beyond your current role. Even casual conversations with colleagues, like grabbing coffee with someone from IT, can expand your network.

How to Nurture & Leverage:

• Cross-Department Networking: Don’t just stick to your team—reach out to people in other departments. Ask to join meetings with cross-functional teams to expand your exposure. Collaboration is key to building broader relationships.
• Show Curiosity: Ask senior colleagues and leaders for their insights on your career, industry trends, or company priorities.
• Bringing People Together: Start a cross-team happy hour, organize project check-ins, or host a postmortem after a big project. These gatherings help you strengthen existing relationships and make new connections with purpose. Plus, it positions you as someone “in-the-know” and a convener who brings value to the team.
• Keep It Casual: Make it a habit to meet new people in everyday moments –– when filling up your coffee, grabbing lunch or even just walking around the office.  Even the most casual of office conversations can be the start of a great connection (or other connections) down the road.
• Expand Your Reach: Coworkers can introduce you to key contacts in other departments or even external connections. Whether you need these connections now or in the future, building great relationships with your current co-works will go a long way.

TAKE ACTION

• Identify 3 coworkers or cross-functional colleagues you’d like to strengthen relationships with. Invite them for a casual chat or ask to collaborate on a project.

Say to yourself:

“I already have a network. It is full of opportunities—I just need to tap into it.”

“I have something valuable to offer in every conversation, even with people I haven’t spoken to in a while.”

“There’s power in the process. Even if my outreach doesn’t lead to the exact outcome I want, I’m gaining confidence, refining my approach, and learning more about myself in the process.”
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Say to others:
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Dormant Ties: “Hey Alex, it’s been a while! Hope you’re doing well!  I see you’ve had a successful run at Big Tech Inc since we’ve last worked together – looks awesome and congrats. I’m still having a great time at Boutique Agency X, but am starting to explore some other opportunities. If you’re open to it,  I’d love to catch up soon and hear more about what you’ve been up to and how you like Big Tech Inc; and of course share all the latest and greatest Boutique Agency X.  Let me know if I can take you to coffee in the next couple of weeks.”
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Tip: Just a dash of specificity and personality makes a big difference with dormant ties. Use weekend language – this doesn’t need to feel formal or uptight, but more of a pleasant surprise hello from an old friend.

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Co-Workers: “Hey Jonah. Nice work on that presentation at the All Hands last week! I’m always so impressed with the work you and your team are doing; I’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today. Candidly, I’m exploring a variety of career paths for myself and I’d love to hear more about your journey. Would you be open to a 20 min chat on a day that works best for you?”

Tip: Reaching out with kudos first, and a request second is a great way to build natural rapport.

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Friends and Family: "Hey Aunt Jamie, I’ve always been curious about your career path and how you got to where you are today. I’d love to hear your story and get some advice. Also, I know you have a connection at [Company], and since I’m exploring opportunities there, I’d really appreciate any insights or an introduction if you think it makes sense."
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Tip: Your friends and family are notoriously overlooked as sources of career inspiration. Because you already have a foundational relationship with these people, you can keep your ask cool and casual.