4 Simple Ways To Revitalize Your Outdated Professional Network

4 Simple Ways To Revitalize Your Outdated Professional Network4 Simple Ways To Revitalize Your Outdated Professional NetworkUnless you work in outbound sales, keeping up with your network might be low on your to do list. Unfortunately, poor maintenance of business relationships often leads to a stale and outdated connections that are no longer working for you. While this is natural, its not good for your career. The value of your network and the value of your income or salary are closely related. Therefore, its in your best interest to stay connected to your network with fresh interactions. Not sure how to step forward with an outdated business contact? Here are four ideas you can use to break the ice Send a link You dont have to make a big deal out of every interaction or even make an original statement. Get back in touch with a business contact seeking out a recent blog article or study related to their industry. Send it to them by email or through LinkedIn and tell them you though t of them. Then ask a follow-up question to get the ball rolling.Practice gratitudeTake 30 minutes each week and consider your work history. Try to think of different moments in your career in which someone helped you or said something insightful that lead you to a new opportunity. Write a handwritten note, email, or LinkedIn message to thank them for their contribution and let them know youre thinking of them. If the favor was particularly beneficial, you might even consider a thank-you gift.Make a connectionThe odds are low that youre the only partie in your network feeling disconnected. Take initiative and make a connection between two people in your network who you think could benefit each other, or simply get along. Write a connecting email to both of them giving a short elevator pitch about each contact and a quick summary of why you think they might be able to help each other. Then follow up separately with each person to ask how the connection worked out. Use the golden rule The golden rule is to treat others as you would like to be treated. If youre nervous about reconnecting with your network because of how much time has passed, consider how you would feel if the situation was reversed, and an old contact reached out to you. Youd likely welcome the reconnection and feel flattered that they thought of you. When you arent actively seeking a new position or going out to networking events, its easy to fall out of touch with your network. Dont let that happen to you. Use these four steps to engage with your contacts and continuously invest in your relationships.