2 Steps Back, Go 1 Step Forward

Using Your Network to Accelerate Your Growth

Feeling stuck in your career? Maybe you’ve hit a plateau. You’re grinding day in and day out, but the spark seems to be missing. What if the answer isn’t in pushing forward harder but rather in stepping back? Introducing the “2 Steps Back, 1 Step Forward” approach—a simple yet powerful strategy to jumpstart your career by reconnecting with the past.

Why Stepping Back is Essential

The concept of “2 Steps Back” is about reflecting on the people who once mattered in your professional journey. Think about it: at various stages of your career, there were individuals who influenced your growth, offered guidance, or opened doors. Over time, as life and work pulled you in different directions, these relationships might have faded. But just because you lost touch doesn’t mean they’ve lost their value.

Rekindling these connections isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about recognizing that relationships are dynamic, and the people who were valuable to you once can still be valuable today. And guess what? You can be valuable to them, too.

Who Should You Reconnect With?

Not everyone in your past is a priority to reconnect within this context. Be strategic. Here’s who you should consider:

1. Former Mentors: Who helped you navigate tricky situations? These people may still carry wisdom you can tap into.
2. Old Colleagues: Who did you work well with in the past? They might now be in positions of influence or have valuable insights.
3. Past Clients or Customers: If you’ve moved on from a client-facing role, those clients are now potential leads for your current position.
4. Influential Acquaintances: Remember that insightful chat at a conference years ago? They could still be a powerful contact.

How to Reach Out Without Being Awkward

It’s easy to feel hesitant about rekindling old relationships. But remember, most people enjoy hearing from someone who genuinely values them. Here’s how to make that reconnection less daunting and more effective:

1. Be Honest and Specific: Start by acknowledging the time that’s passed. “I’ve been thinking about our project at [Company Name], and I realize how much I learned from working with you.” Specificity shows you’ve given thought to the connection, making your message feel less generic.
2. Offer Value: Don’t make it all about you. Can you share an interesting article, a relevant piece of news, or an industry update that might interest them? Show that you’re not just asking for help, but also offering something in return.
3. Ask for Advice, Not a Job: People love to share their wisdom. If you’re looking for career insights, ask for advice rather than a direct job lead. Ending the conversation with “who else do you think I should reach out to?” is a great way to meet the right people.
4. Be Grateful: A simple “Thank you for taking the time” goes a long way. It shows you respect their time and input.

To ensure these efforts don’t go to waste and to help maintain these relationships over time, using a personal CRM like Covve can be a game-changer. It can help you stay organized, track your interactions, and ensure you’re nurturing these connections consistently.

Leveraging the Reconnection for Growth

Once you’ve rekindled these relationships, maintaining and nurturing them becomes essential to unlocking their full potential. This is where a personal CRM, like Covve, can be invaluable in your career strategy. A personal CRM helps you systematically manage your contacts, track interactions, and ensure you’re regularly following up with the key people in your professional network.

Covve offers several key features:

• Reminders to Reach Out: Set reminders so you don’t forget to stay in touch.
• Notes: Keep track of important details from your discussions.
• Reconnection Insights: Get prompts on when it’s a good time to reconnect.

You can easily spot opportunities for collaboration—whether it’s a project, a referral, or exchanging valuable information. The app’s timely prompts keep you top of mind with your contacts, allowing new opportunities to emerge naturally from consistent interactions.

Rekindling old relationships often brings fresh energy into your professional life. These connections can offer new perspectives, lead to unexpected opportunities, and, most importantly, reignite your passion for what you do. Remember, growth doesn’t always come from forging ahead; sometimes, the best way forward is by revisiting where you’ve already been.

Take the time today to reach out to someone from your past. That one message could be the key to unlocking your next big opportunity.

Give Covve a try for free. If you’re not quite ready, subscribe to The Networker, our bi-weekly newsletter, to stay up to date on connection insights and tips.