How to Build a Professional Network That Works for You
Networking is one of the most powerful tools a senior professional has, and it is also one of the most misused. Most professionals know they should be cultivating their network consistently, but the reality is that the vast majority of people only reach out to their connections when they need something. A new job. An introduction. A reference. And the people receiving those outreach messages can feel the difference between a relationship that has been maintained over time and one that was dormant until it became useful. At Bradsby Group, our executive recruiting team has been working with senior professionals across accounting and finance, energy, construction, healthcare, supply chain, and technology for over 55 years. The candidates who find the best opportunities fastest are almost never the ones with the most connections.
The Difference Between a Network and a Contact List
A contact list is a collection of names you have accumulated over the course of your career. A network is a set of relationships built on mutual respect, shared history, and genuine interest in each other’s success. The difference between the two is not the size of your LinkedIn following or the number of business cards in your drawer. It is whether the people you reach out to are actually glad to hear from you, and that depends entirely on how you have shown up for them before you needed anything.
According to Harvard Business School Online’s professional networking guide updated in March 2026, effective networking is built on mutual value rather than one-sided requests, and professionals can approach it in a genuine and ethical way by developing relationships that are not only about taking but also about giving, learning, and enabling others to learn. That principle sounds simple, but it requires consistent behavior over time rather than a single strategic outreach when the timing is convenient for you.
How to Stay Present Without an Agenda
The most effective networkers at the executive level stay present in their relationships during the periods when they do not need anything. This means congratulating a former colleague on a promotion before you are looking for a job. It means sharing a relevant article with someone in your network because it made you think of them, not because you are softening them up for a request. It means responding thoughtfully when someone in your network reaches out to you, even when it requires time you do not have to spare.
These small consistent actions are what transform a contact into a genuine connection. According to Business News Daily’s professional networking guide, regular engagement with your network, staying in touch with contacts, and investing time to nurture professional relationships are crucial to maintaining robust professional connections. The executives who do this well are the ones who never feel like they are starting from zero when they need to activate their network because they have never let the relationships go cold.
How to Ask for Networking Help Without Making It Awkward
Even when a relationship has been well maintained, asking for help can still feel uncomfortable. The professionals who navigate this most effectively are the ones who are honest and direct about what they need rather than burying the ask inside a vague conversation that wastes everyone’s time. If you are exploring new opportunities, say so clearly and explain specifically what kind of role or introduction would be most valuable. If you need an introduction to someone in your contact’s network, be specific about who and why.
Most people in your network genuinely want to help you when you ask clearly and respectfully. Being specific makes it easier for them to do so and signals that you respect their time. What erodes goodwill is not asking for help but asking for help in a way that feels like you are engineering a situation rather than having a direct human conversation.
Why Your Relationship With Your Recruiter Is Part of Networking
One of the most underutilized professional relationships a senior executive can have is a genuine long-term relationship with a recruiter who specializes in their industry and function. The best executive recruiting relationships are not transactional either. They are built over time through honest conversations about career goals, compensation expectations, and the kinds of opportunities that would genuinely represent a meaningful move rather than just a change.
At Bradsby Group, our executive recruiters build relationships with senior professionals long before any specific opportunity exists because those are the relationships that produce the best outcomes for both candidates and clients. A candidate who has been known to us for two years before a role opens has a significant advantage over one who sends a cold resume. And a client who has shared detailed context about their organization and culture with us over time gets dramatically better candidates than one who calls us when the position is already urgent.
If you are a senior professional who wants to build that kind of relationship with a recruiting partner who specializes in your field, contact Bradsby Group today. Our executive search and direct hire recruiting team is ready to have a real conversation about where you are in your career and where you want to go.
