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Networking is not a job search tool. Networking is the job! 

This perspective redefines networking from a tactical activity to the very core of professional success. Instead of viewing networking as a separate task to check off in pursuit of a job, consider it a continuous professional practice, integral to every role. 

Effective networking doesn’t simply open doors to new opportunities; it continuously enhances your understanding, broadens your influence, and solidifies your position in the industry. By treating networking as your primary job, you prioritize building and sustaining relationships that fuel both immediate opportunities and long-term career progression. It transforms every interaction into a building block for future success.

If you are not sure how to build the relationships you need for success, let's talk. Herminia Ibarra's book Act Like a Leader. Think Like a Leader is a great how-to guide.

In times of rapid industry evolution, late-career professionals have an unexpected edge: You have seen many changes. 
 
People seek guidance during upheaval. Your years of experience equip you uniquely to provide it. Focus on distilling your experience into principles that can navigate the new landscape. Your role should be less about mastering the latest tools and more role-modelling reactions to change, making sense of what is happening and offering a vision that maps out the path to future possibilities. 
 
Dramatic change is your cue to redefine not just your career, but potentially the direction of your firm, by embodying the leadership others are desperately seeking - regardless of your job title.

is one The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking that Michael Watkins explores in his new book. It's similar to Re-framing, which is a fundamental technique and benefit of coaching: helping the Coachee to see old problems from new perspectives. 

In the book Michael guides us to do it for ourselves, thinking about tough/old problems through new lenses.  

Talking to Michael about this in April , I shared a tool I often use: 

1-When confronted with a suggestion to label yourself as either X or Y, pause. 

2-Visualize a 2 x 2 grid where X and Y aren't endpoints of a spectrum but axes of a matrix. Exploring the matrix is a powerful framework for transcending false dichotomies and promotes creative thinking. 

We applied it to the article Are You a Whiner or Winner? and found that it is a false dichotomy. I  know people who are both high Whiners and a high Winners, and Michael added Stoic Losers to the grid!

In this explainer video I describe how to move from a dilemma (whiner or winner) to a tetralemma (considering the 4 possibilities in the 2x2grid)

It can be biased, an outlier, or irrelevant to your goals. So don't feel compelled to act on every piece of advice you receive.

Be selective about the feedback you implement. Acting indiscriminately on every suggestion not only dilutes your focus but can steer you away from effective behaviors. Instead, evaluate feedback critically—align it with your objectives, values, and the broader context of your career. 

This intentional approach empowers you to harness feedback that genuinely propels you forward, while gracefully sidestepping that which may not serve your purpose. Selective responsiveness ensures that you remain in control of your professional narrative, driving growth on your own terms.

If you are struggling to get the feedback you need, let's talk. 

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