Connections: Building Relationships That Matter
Career opportunities come from people who already believe in you
As the modern career playbook evolved, “connections” became just a number on people’s LinkedIn, and networking turned into Pokémon Go for professionals. But genuine connections aren’t just about being connected on LinkedIn. Genuine connections are the ones you have with people who know you well enough to trust you, remember your worth, and answer your call without hesitation.
Based on my experience, career growth rarely results from cold outreach or last-minute scrambling. Instead, it comes from people who already believe in you—those you’ve invested in long before you needed a favor. This is the “C” in the ACE Framework, serving as the bridge between your self-awareness and your eminence.
What A Genuine Connection Looks Like
Genuine professional relationships feel real. They are based on first providing value without expecting anything in return. You stay connected without hidden motives. You understand what matters to them, and they know what drives you.
When you reach out to your genuine connections, it doesn’t feel awkward because the relationship has never cooled off. These are the allies who help boost your career — not because they owe you, but because the relationship has been consistently maintained.
The Two-Tier Network
If you audit your network today, it likely falls into two distinct tiers:
Tier 1: Active Connections. These are your trusted contacts. You share advice, introductions, and honest feedback. There’s momentum here. There’s trust here. When you ask, they respond because the relationship is “live.”
Tier 2: Dormant Connections. These are people you haven’t talked to in years. If you suddenly reach out after a long silence to ask, “Do you know of any jobs?” the response is almost always a polite “no.” Not because they don’t like you, but because you aren’t top of mind. Some of these folks may not even appreciate you reaching out only when you need something.
The true cost of allowing relationships to fade is that when you truly need help, no one will respond.
Your Goal: Keep Your Network Warm
A warm network is one where people feel comfortable reaching out to you. This warmth pays off by uncovering hidden opportunities, fostering collaborations, and opening doors you didn’t even know about. A cold network, on the other hand, leads to awkward conversations and missed chances. Warmth doesn’t demand intensity; it calls for consistency. You don’t need weekly calls or a tiring schedule of coffee chats.
Simple Ways to Sustain the Spark
Small, meaningful gestures go a long way in preventing dormant connections from cooling off. These acts take just minutes but can sustain a relationship for years. Here are some examples.
The Quarterly Pulse: Send a short email once a quarter.
Celebrate Wins: Congratulate them on a promotion or a project milestone.
Share Curated Content: Send an article or report specifically relevant to their current challenges.
Do a “No-Agenda” Check-in: Reach out just to say hello and check how their journey is going.
Become a Connector, Not Just a Collector
The best way to add value to your connections is to help them support each other. Introduce people who should meet and share opportunities that aren’t a fit for you but would be perfect for someone else. When you become the person who connects the dots, you’re not just a name in a contact list; you’re a source of value. People naturally want to help those who lift them up.
The Long Game
Most people wait until they’re in trouble to reach out. Don’t be one of those people. Offer help before it’s asked for. Share value before you need it. Warm connections grow stronger over time, making your career journey less lonely and more resilient. Your network isn’t about how many people you’ve added to it; it’s about how many are eager to take your call.
The road ahead is yours to shape!
Suresh 😊
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