I know, it seems way too slick to mention this much-loved old New Year’s Eve hymn in the same breath as a suit-and-tie word like “networking.”
But the old song asks a good question: “Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never called to mind?”
You may have old friends and acquaintances you haven’t talked to in a while. And your community has grown. There are new people in your network. Why not get (back) in touch?
Here are some ideas:
- Make a “walk date” with someone you haven’t seen in a while. Get some exercise and catch up at the same time.
- Actually read your LinkedIn updates (and I’m talking to myself here, mea culpa!) and look for opportunities to congratulate, comment and catch up.
- If you’re not on LinkedIn or not doing much with it yet, consider that “I just joined” or “I just updated my profile” might be a great “excuse” to catch up with people.
- Random acts of appreciation: Who have you been grateful to during the year, for a large favor or a small? It may have been an introduction, advice, a recommendation, or a word of encouragement. Why not say “I still appreciate it! So how are you, anyway?”
“We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,” as the song says. Or maybe get together for coffee.
