There are only two ways to manage your executive or senior management career.

1. The Reactive Way
2. The Bold Way

Most 6-figure figure senior managers and executives fall into the first category.

➡ You're hoping the quality of your work will speak for itself
➡ Quality opportunities are scarce because you're avoiding personal marketing
➡ You're successful but maybe not fulfilled
➡ You feel ready for the next level and are stuck on how to make it happen
➡ Or something happens to your job, and you don't have a net

Which is why you're feeling stuck and undervalued.

On top of that, you're probably struggling with a lack of career vision; "Is it too late to create something that fills me up and utilizes my potential?" "What do I want for my next chapter?"

Now, imagine that you're truly thriving in your career.

➡ You are in the right role for you now
➡ You get to do work that lights you up
➡ Your career is a fuel source for your life [lifestyle, energy, confidence]
➡ You're in the driver's seat of your career advancement

"How am I going to get to that stage?", I hear you ask.

Here's how.

The first step is getting you into the right job. If you're ready to make a career move, by following my proven 3-step program, we will take you from "stuck" to "starting your next-level role" in 3-4 months.

Phase 1 ➡ we'll remove Doubt and get you "Market Ready" by creating a winning strategy and materials
Phase 2 ➡ we'll remove Self-Promotion Fear to get you "Sales Ready" by helping you uncover and generate the right opportunities
Phase 3 ➡ we'll remove Interview Jitters and get you "Interview Ready" so that you'll interview and close confidently, ready to make the right decision

And we'll work with you until you land your next-level role.

The second step is managing the business of YOU. We have a unique, proven approach to advancing your career.

Our results speak for themselves:

"Two promotions since our first call - not bad." [Preston - VP & GM]

"Their transformative approach equipped me with high-impact assets, insights, and strategies, empowering me to take full command of my career journey and unlock my professional potential." [Lisa - CEO]

"Paid out 10X what I invested in services" [Matt - SVP]

"If you're looking to elevate your career, look no further!" [Brandon, Asst GM]

Back to you.

Are you tired of stagnating and not having the career journey you deserve? Are you ready to land your next-level role and advance your career?

Then let's talk.

I'm a 22-year executive career coach, ex. executive recruiter and MBA career centre director.

DM me here.

Ian Christie

“Why did you leave X job?”

This question can sink a good interview fast.

Most people stumble, talk too long, get vague, or shift blame. When that happens, trust drops and the interviewer starts digging (or silently downgrades their interest). 

You want the opposite: a clean answer that closes the topic and moves things forward.

What decision-makers listen for:
- Clarity. One to three clean sentences about what happened. No fog words.
- Ownership. You don’t bad-mouth. You own your part and your choice.
- Judgment. You exited well and kept relationships intact.
- Growth. You learned something real from the experience.
- Direction. You know exactly what you’re aiming for next.

⚠️ Here are the common traps that trigger doubt:
- “Mutually agreed…” (sounds like you’re hiding the ball)
- “It’s complicated…” (invites a 10-minute probe)
- “Long story…” (signals you’re not in control)
- Rambling, defensiveness, naming names

Keep this in mind: leaving a job is less of a problem than how you talk about it.

Tight, calm, fact-based and future-focused answers earn trust. Long, foggy, or blame-heavy answers don’t.

The Infographic shares: 
1️⃣ A simple frame you can use for any situation
2️⃣ What to say (and not say) for 6 tricky scenarios
3️⃣ Delivery tips so you stop talking at the right moment

If you have an exit to explain, Save this for prep night and Share with someone interviewing this week.

Want a high-res PDF of this and all of my infographics? Get them here:
-> https://lnkd.in/gDBNs_MC 

♻️ Repost now to help someone interviewing this week. 
✅ Follow Ian Christie for career move guidance and how to become highly marketable.

Career Coach for Under-Marketed Execs & Senior Professionals ✦ Job search, pivots, interviews, personal brand, advancement ✦ You’ve done the work → now get the recognition ✦ Ex. Exec Recruiter & MBA Careers Director

An infographic with the caption "Master the Interview Question: Why did you leave your last job?" Followed by a framework. 

Hard Work Won't Get You Promoted

These 9 things will.

I am obsessed with helping senior professionals unlock their career growth potential. Too many are stuck. Not pulling the right levers.

If you want to advance, here's what you need to do:
1. Make Things Better
Make a difference through positive impact, not ego. Record your wins, then look forward: what opportunities do you see to create lasting change?

2. Self-Advocate & Seek Feedback
Hard work alone won't get you promoted. Advocate for yourself with confidence. Seek critical feedback with humility. Act on it. Repeat.

3. Escape the Career Traps
Recognize when you're stuck: accidental specialization, bad fit roles, pigeonholing, stagnation. See the trap. Decide it's worth escaping. Create your exit plan.

4. Don't Stall in Bad Situations
You know when things aren't working. Bad job fit. Toxic environment. Unsalvageable boss relationship. Cut the time between noticing and acting.

5. Solve for Self-Sabotage
Identify behaviours holding you back. Look for patterns in feedback and negative outcomes. What's getting in your way? Address it.

6. Build Communication & Story-Telling Skills
Great leaders communicate vision, strategy, problems, and solutions through stories. Develop this skill: it leaves lasting impressions and accelerates advancement.

7. Build Sight Lines
Being your boss's best-kept secret kills careers. Build visibility for your work. Cultivate relationships. Find champions. If they don't see you, they can't promote you.

8. Be Someone People Can Count On
Earn a reputation for reliability, results, and taking care of people. When others know they can count on you to lead and deliver, everything becomes easier.

9. Create External Profile
Internal performance isn't enough if higher-ups think you're invisible externally. Polish your LinkedIn. Network. Stay plugged into your industry. Show them they can't take you for granted.

The truth? Career advancement follows a formula.
Most people just don't know it.
Now you do.

Pick one strategy. Do something with it this week.
Which one will you start with?
---
♻️ Repost to help others solve the advancement problem.
✅ Follow me, Ian Christie, for more on becoming highly marketable, making next-level career moves, and building a career you'll celebrate

💬 What have I missed? 👇

An infographic with the caption "Hard work won't get you promoted: These 9 things will." 

"Why should we hire you?"
Every interview comes down to this question. Whether they ask it or not.

Most candidates fumble it. They list skills. They summarize their resume. They hope something lands.

Here's a better approach:

Step 1: Know your professional assets

Before you can answer "why you," you need clarity on what you bring. Five categories:
→ Experience — industries, company types, contexts you've operated in
→ Traits — work style, personality, natural strengths
→ Drivers — interests, values, problems you want to solve
→ Capabilities — skills, expertise, competencies
→ Reputation & Reach — track record, relationships, trajectory
This is your inventory. Most people have never done this work.

Step 2: Connect the dots

Your answer isn't about you. It's about fit.
Two parties: you and the buyer. Your job is to connect:
→ Their needs
→ Your assets

Step 3: Build your "Why Me" case

Organize your answer around 4 pillars:
Value & Impact — What can you do for them? Skills, experience, expertise.
Situational Fit — Have you done this before? (Growth, turnaround, scale, launch)
Motivation — Why do you want this role? (Not just any role)
Team & Org Fit — Why this company, this culture, this team?
Create 4-6 points. Have evidence for each. Put them in a logical order.

[Want a high-res PDF of this and other frameworks. See 👇]

Step 4: Don't wait to be asked

Seed your points throughout the interview. When they ask about an area where you're strong, lean in:
"Great question. This is actually one of my strengths—I have multiple examples. Here's one..."

And if they never ask the question directly? Close with a summary anyway.
Confident. Competent. Not afraid to sell.

📥 Want the full framework as a printable PDF? Download "Why Should I Hire You?" from the Bold Career Vault
-> https://lnkd.in/gDBNs_MC

♻️ Save this for your next interview.
✅ Follow the career coach for senior professionals - Ian Christie

An infographic that reads: "Master the Ultimate Interview Question: - Why should I hire / promote you" followed by a section on the Stakes, then the 5-part professional assets framework, how to connect the dots and delivery tips. 

If nothing changes about how you're managing your career, where will you be in 3 years? 

Not "what are your goals?" Not "how was your year?"

This question. The uncomfortable one. 

[Reposting as it is a message people need to hear.]

Most professionals won't ask it. Because the honest answer might sting.

Here's what I see constantly:
Smart, capable people who are doing well by most measures, good title, decent pay, reasonable stability, but who've slowly drifted off course.
They didn't make a bad decision.
They made no decision.
They just kept going.

And somewhere along the way, the career stopped being something they were building and became something that was happening to them.

Career drift is silent. There's no alarm. No clear moment when it starts.
Just a slow accumulation of "this is fine" that eventually becomes "how did I get here?"

The end of the year is one of the few natural pause points where you can actually see it.

So I built a worksheet to help (see below).

The Year-End Career Reckoning Worksheet walks you through:
→ The uncomfortable question (with prompts to go deeper)
→ A 4-part self-assessment of your career assets
→ How to identify your ONE constraint
→ A simple 90-day system to address it

30 minutes. Brutal honesty. Real clarity.

Save this post as a reminder OR 
Get the free Year-End Worksheet here. Stop the drift with -> https://lnkd.in/gTDm26jr

♻️ Repost to help others make 2026 the year they become the CEO of their career.
✅ Follow Ian Christie for daily insights on your career and marketability.

An infographics with the caption - "The Year-End Career Reckoning". Question: "If nothing changes, where will I be in 3 years?"

Your career is a system.
And systems don't reward what you plan to do.
They reward what you actually do. Consistently, over time.

You meant to update your resume.
You meant to reach out to that contact.
You meant to have the conversation with your boss.
You meant to finally get clear on what's next.

But you didn't. And another quarter passed.

The road to career stagnation is paved with "I'll get to it next quarter."
Q1 2024 was going to be different. So was Q2. So was Q3.

Here's the pattern: You think about your career in bursts. Usually when something goes wrong. Then the urgency fades, the busyness takes over, and you're back to reactive mode.

Your career doesn't care about your good intentions. It only responds to inputs.
The inputs are simple:
→ The relationships you build (or let decay)
→ The skills you develop (or let atrophy)
→ The visibility you create (or avoid)
→ The opportunities you pursue (or ignore)

Miss enough inputs, and the system produces predictable outputs: stagnation, frustration, and the slow erosion of options.

Here's how to build a career system that actually works:
1. Schedule it
Your career doesn't manage itself. Block 1-2 hours per week, non-negotiable, for career development. Networking, learning, reflecting, planning. This is where you wear your “CEO of You Inc.” hat.

2. Track the leading indicators
Not just "did I get promoted?" Track: How many meaningful conversations did I have this month? How many meaningful relationships did I add or deepen? What new skills am I building? Who knows about my best work?

3. Solve for bottlenecks
Most career stalls aren't about effort. They're about undiagnosed constraints. Maybe you lack clarity on what you actually want. Maybe your confidence is shaky because you haven't articulated your value. Maybe your positioning is weak, your visibility is low, or your action plan is scattered. Identify the real bottleneck. Then solve for that, not everything at once.

4. Create forcing functions
Annual reviews aren't enough. Set quarterly career check-ins with yourself. Review your goals, assess your progress and risk, adjust your actions.

5. Make the first action stupid simple
If you're stuck, the next action is too big. Break it down. "Advance my career" becomes "send one LinkedIn message today."

Stop treating your career like a thing that happens to you. Treat it like a system you operate.

1. Need help being the CEO of You Inc? Send me a DM. 
2. Want this and other system infographics in high-res PDFs? 
-> https://lnkd.in/gDBNs_MC
--
♻️ Repost if someone needs this wake-up call.
✅ Follow Ian Christie | Career Coach to Under-Marketed Execs & Senior Professionals

💬 What's one career input you've been neglecting?

An infographic with the caption "Your Career is a System. And systems don't reward what you plan to do. They reward what you actually do - consistently, over time."

37% at the lowest level. 60% in the bottom two.
That's how senior professionals rate themselves on being approached for opportunities.

Think about that.

These are accomplished people. Directors. VPs. Senior managers and other senior professionals with strong track records. And most of them are waiting for the phone to ring.

It's not ringing.

Here's the uncomfortable truth: if you're not getting approached, you're not visible. Your network has decayed. Your reputation doesn’t have reach. You're working hard inside a company, but invisible to the market outside it.

And here's what makes this worse in 2026: quiet hiring is rising. Companies are skipping job postings entirely. They’re researching LinkedIn, asking their networks, and reaching out directly to people they've already heard of.

If you're not on their radar, you're not in the conversation. The best roles are getting filled before they're ever advertised.

This is fixable, but not by "trying harder." It requires a different approach:
→ Strategic visibility (being known for something specific)
→ Active relationship maintenance (before you need anything)
→ A clear professional identity people can refer

Opportunities don't find the most talented. They find the most visible.

Where do you stand? Take the Career Power Audit and find out.
→ https://lnkd.in/gZErtdD8
---
♻️ Repost so that others get the message that this is fixable.
✅ Follow Ian Christie to close your marketing gap

Image of a graph. The caption reads: "How frequently are you approached for relevant roles, interviews, or networking introductions?". 

Q1 is the highest-leverage quarter for career momentum.
Budgets are fresh. Leaders are planning. Your competitors are still "getting back into it." While they drift, you can build.

But here's what I've learned from career coaching senior professionals for 20+ years: Information isn't the problem.

You know what you should be doing. You've read the books. Saved the posts. Watched the videos.

So what is the problem? There are four, and they have to be solved in order.

1. Clarity
You can't execute on a fuzzy goal. And clarity isn't just about direction. It's about your offering. What do you bring? If you're fuzzy on your own value, you'll face a confidence crisis that holds you back from taking action.

2. Positioning
Clarity without positioning is a secret no one knows about. You might know your value, but does the market? Most senior professionals are under-marketed: strong track record, weak visibility.

3. Strategy & Sequence
Knowing what to do isn't enough. You need to know what order to do it in. I watch people burn months on tactics that should come later.

4. Execution
Finally, yes: execution. Alone, it's hard to stay consistent. Systems beat motivation.
The right sequence: Clarity → Positioning → Relationships → Opportunities → Conversion.

Skip steps, and you'll spin.

Your Q1 framework:
→ Weeks 1-4: Clarify (what you want + what you bring)
→ Weeks 5-8: Build (positioning, visibility, relationships)
→ Weeks 9-12+: Move & Growth focus (now or setting up for future advancement)

One action per week. 12 meaningful moves by March 31.
That's how momentum gets built.

💾 Save this post for your Q1 planning.

📊 Want to know where you actually stand? Take the Career Power Audit (link in comments). 5 minutes to see your score across the dimensions that drive career success.
--
♻️ Repost to help someone build momentum this quarter.
✅ Follow Ian Christie for more on career strategy, positioning, and making moves that matter.

An infographic with the caption: "Your 90-Day Career Action plan: Q1 Momentum Builder - Q1 is the highest leverage quarter for career moves. Here's how to use the next 90 days to set yourself up." 

Tired of watching others soar while you feel stuck?

You do everything "right":
• Deliver great results
• Support your team
• Hit your targets
• Stay humble

Yet watching others zoom past you feels like...well, it sucks. 

The real problem might not be your performance.

Maybe you didn't learn the rules (or decided not to play)

Your colleagues aren't just working - they're:
→ Positioning their wins
→ Designing their next move
→ Building visibility strategies
→ Creating strategic relationships

Here are 4 of the key things you need to do to advance: 
1. Start treating your career like a business
• Create quarterly career OKRs
• Track & measure your professional ROE (return-on-effort)

2. Make your impact visible
• Document wins (quantitative & qualitative)
• Share insights, not just updates

3. Build relationships before you need them
• Schedule at least 2 strategic coffee chats monthly
• Actively contribute to industry conversations

4. Create opportunities instead of waiting
• Volunteer for high-visibility projects
• Solve problems nobody asked you to fix

The path to success isn't just about what you do.
It's about how you position what you do.

Ready to play the game at a higher level? Let's connect.

---
♻️  Repost if this resonated - your network needs this wake-up call too.
✅ Follow Ian Christie to become highly marketable, make next-level career moves, & create the career journey you deserve.

💬 What's the biggest career lesson you had to learn the hard way?👇

Image of a man taking notes while watching colleagues. The caption reads "How smart & ambitious professionals play the advancement game" 

Most people treat their careers like a neglected car:

Only looking under the hood when the engine starts smoking.

I've coached 2,000+ senior professionals. The ones who stall almost always have this in common: they worked in their career, but never on it.

No visibility strategy. No relationship maintenance. No story development.

Then something happens: a layoff, being passed over, an industry shift, and they're scrambling.

Here's what proactive career management actually looks like:
1. Regular Career Audits
→ Quarterly: Am I building the right skills for where I want to go?
→ Monthly: Who haven't I talked to in 90 days that I should?
→ Weekly: What wins am I documenting? What am I learning?

2. Watch the Warning Signs
→ Your projects are getting less visible
→ Growth conversations have gone quiet
→ Your industry is shifting and you're not adapting

3. Build Before You Need
→ Relationships: cultivate them before you need a referral
→ Reputation: invest in visibility before you need a job
→ Skills: develop them before they're required

The senior professionals who land the best roles aren't the ones who "deserve" them.

They're the ones who were ready.

Prevention beats panic.
Your career deserves more than crisis management.

Do a crucial preventative maintenance task today -> Take the free career power scorecard to discover your score and the areas that need maintenance.
https://lnkd.in/gZErtdD8 
---
♻️ Repost if this resonates. Help someone avoid the scramble.
✅ Follow Ian Christie for more on building a career you won't have to rescue.

💬 What's one proactive career move you've made that paid off? 👇

An infographic with the caption "If you want a great career, don't only work on it when it's on fire".

Not all visibility is good visibility.
I've watched senior professionals sabotage their reputation while trying to build it.

Humble-bragging that makes people cringe.
Engagement farming that gets likes but loses respect.
Being "always on" until their audience tunes out.

They're doing what they think works. But it's backfiring.

Here's the thing: at senior levels, being good at your job isn't enough. People need to know you're good. Visibility matters.

But the wrong kind of visibility is worse than none at all.

After coaching 2,000+ professionals, I've seen what actually builds reputation, and what quietly destroys it.

Swipe through for the honest breakdown →
✅ 3 visibility plays that work
❌ 3 visibility plays that backfire

💾 Save this for your next "should I post this?" moment.
--
♻️ Repost if your network needs this reality check.
✅ Follow Ian Christie for more on becoming visible without becoming insufferable.

💬 Which of these have you tried? What worked (or backfired)?

How to Be Visible in Ways That Work

I used to think networking was just for extroverts, salespeople, or people trying to land their next job. Then I learned that real networking—the kind that builds trust, opens doors, and helps people stay and grow in their careers—is just consistent, human connection.

That realization shaped everything I do now.

Today, I split my time between two worlds:

At Retention and Rewards Partners, I work with HR leaders to solve complex problems around compensation, benefits, and employee retention. I’ve led total rewards teams through M&A deals, culture transformations, open enrollments, and board-level pay strategy. But underneath all the spreadsheets and systems is one simple goal: build workplaces where people want to stay.

And as the founder of The Introverted Networker, I teach professionals how to build strong relationships—without small talk, events, or pretending to be someone they’re not. I write a weekly newsletter, lead corporate workshops, and coach people on how to connect with others in a way that feels real and doable.

My work might look different depending on the day, but it’s all connected by one belief: when people feel seen, supported, and fairly treated, they stay. And when they build trusted relationships at work, they thrive.

If you care about building workplaces where people stay and succeed—or you’re trying to grow your network in a way that actually feels good—I’d love to connect.


Here are other ways I can help you:

⇨ Sign up for my newsletter, "The Introverted Networker," to get tips to improve your networking.

⇨ Get my FREE course, "5 Steps To Grow Your Professional Network," to get the exact networking blueprint I follow every week to grow my own network.

⇨ Follow me to learn how to find new connections without going to networking events

⇨ Download my guide "15 Minute Networking"

⇨ Get my book "The Fast and Easy Guide To Networking For Introverts"

All the links for these resources are in my Featured section above!

The best way to contact me is via email: greg@gregsroche.com

Greg Roche

Most networking advice is 20 years out of date.
Here’s what actually works now.
 
Most of what we were taught doesn’t fit how networking actually happens.
 
Here are a few ideas worth letting go of (and what to do instead):
 
• “𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄.”
That’s incomplete. What matters is who knows 𝘺𝘰𝘶 and why they trust you.
 
• “𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆.”
Most real connections don’t start with speeches.
They start with curiosity and listening.
 
• “𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.”
That’s pressure no one needs.
Networking works better when it’s about helping, not pitching.
 
• “𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.”
Hundreds of people on your contact list rarely beat a handful of real relationships..
 
• “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯.”
That’s like watering a plant only when it’s dying.
 
• “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀.”
You need follow-through, not cardstock.
 
• “𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆.”
Some of the best ideas and opportunities come from outside your bubble.
 
• “𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀.”
Most meaningful connections happen one conversation at a time, not in crowded rooms.
 
Networking isn’t a formula.
 
It’s a long game built on trust, relevance, and consistency.
 
If networking feels awkward, it’s often because you were taught the wrong rules.

If you want to learn the new rules of networking,

Do one of these:
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter-click link on top of the post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

I'll teach you to be a more confident networker, whether you're an introvert, extrovert, or something in between.

I teach professionals to connect and build trust. Founder Retention and Rewards Partners. Solving retention and total rewards challenges for HR leaders who need results, not more noise. Aka: The Introverted Networker.

This past weekend, I traded winter coats in Colorado for sun in Arizona.
 
I’ll be spending the winter in the Phoenix area.
 
It’s a new experience.
A new rhythm.

Part of the next phase of life for me and my family.
 
I’m excited about it.
And, if I’m honest, a little nervous.
 
That feeling is familiar.
 
Because when I look back on my career, the same pattern shows up again and again.
 
I didn’t follow a straight line.
 
I thought I was headed one way.
Something unexpected showed up.
I took a turn.
 
Teaching became consulting.
Consulting became something else.
Sales didn’t last.
HR did.

That role grew.
Then it ended.
 
I’ve had long stretches and short ones.
Promotions and layoffs.
W2 jobs and my own business.
 
On paper, it can look messy.
 
At times, even reckless.
 
But here’s what wandering gave me.
 
Perspective.
Context.
Range.
 
Every role taught me something I couldn’t have learned by staying put.
 
Looking back, it might seem like I didn’t have a plan.
 
But I was never lost.
 
I kept moving.
Paying attention.
Saying yes when something worth exploring showed up.
 
Opportunities rarely come looking for you.
 They sit just off the path.
 
You usually find them when you’re willing to wander a little.
 
If you’re standing at a fork right now, unsure of the next step, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
 
It might mean you’re exactly where growth starts.

Have a great week!


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

The biggest career lesson I learned didn’t come from a win.
It came from a layoff.

For a long time, I believed something that felt reasonable:
 
If you work hard,
If you do good work,
If you stay loyal,
 
You'll be fine.
 
I wasn’t careless.
I wasn’t checked out.
I wasn’t underperforming.
 
I had years of strong reviews.
I had momentum.
I had credibility.
 
So I assumed stability was earned.
 
Then one meeting changed everything.
 
My boss walked into my office and my role was eliminated.
 
Not because of something I did.
Not because I failed.
Because the business shifted.
 
That was the moment I learned a quiet lesson most people never get until it’s too late:
 
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁.
 
And when it does, the question isn't how good you were at your last role.
 
The question is who knows you now.
 
At the time, my answer was uncomfortable.
 
I'd focused so much on doing the work that I hadn’t invested in relationships outside my immediate circle.
 
No regular check-ins.
No light touchpoints.
No habit of staying connected.
 
I thought networking was something you did when you needed something.

Turns out it works best when you don’t.
 
Your network is not just a job search tool.
It' your Career Insurance Policy.

Like most insurance policies, it's:

Quiet.
Boring.
Incredibly effective.
 
You build it while things are calm so it’s there when things are not.
 
If you have a job right now, this is not a warning.
 
It’s an opportunity.
 
Create your Career Insurance Policy one conversation at a time.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If don't have Career Insurance, but know you need it,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these helps me help you create your Career Insurance Policy

Most people network the wrong way.
Here’s what actually works.

The standard networking advice tells you to do more.
 
Meet more people.
Go to more events.
Collect more contacts.
 
That’s usually the wrong move.
 
Networking works better when you slow it down.
 
One person.
One conversation.
One relationship at a time.
 
You don’t need to start with strangers in a crowded room.
 
Start with people you already know.
 
Reach back out.
Ask what they’re working on.
Share what you’re focused on right now.
 
Then do the part most people skip.
 
Ask who else you should know.
Ask for an introduction.
 
That’s how networks actually grow.
Not by casting a wide net.
But by building outward, intentionally.
 
It sounds slower on paper.
 
In practice, it’s more efficient and a lot more human.
 
Try it once this week.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

One warm intro > 10 cold DMs. 
Every time.

Most networking advice focuses on doing more:.

• Go to more events.
• Meet more people.
• Cast a wider net.

That's usually the wrong place to start.

Networks don't grow from volume.
They grow from the next person you meet..

One person.
Then the next person.
Then the person after that.

Not starting with strangers.
But, with people you already know.

Reach out.
Have a real conversation.
Ask what they're working on.
Share what you're focused on right now.

Then do the part that actually expands your network.

Ask who else you should know.
Ask for an introduction.

That single step does more than ten cold conversations ever will.

Yes, it feels slower.
It's not.

It's quieter.
More efficient.
And easier to sustain when you're busy.

If networking feels overwhelming, try this instead.

One person this week.
That's enough to start.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

You made a 2026 plan.
Life’s about to mess with it.

Some people have tattoos.
 
My wife has one.
My kids have them.
 
I don’t.
 
Not because I dislike them.

I just have never found the one image or sentence I want on my body forever.
 
But there's one that comes close.
 
“Man plans. God laughs.”

It's a Yiddish proverb.
I think about it a lot.
 
I make plans.
Life changes them.
 
I aim in one direction.
Something unexpected shows up.
 
A door opens.
Another one closes.
 
And the path shifts.
  
Last week, a lot of people made plans.
 
Carefully thought-out goals.
Color-coded calendars.
Notion dashboards.
Twelve-month roadmaps that look very confident.
 
By December 31, 2026, your life will look different.
 
Different than it does today.
And different than the plans you made last week.
 
Not because you failed.
Because God laughed.
Because life moved.
 
Why plan at all?
 
Because plans matter.
 
Plans signal intention.
They show what you care about.
They give you a direction to walk toward.
 
You'll get farther with a plan than without one.
 
But here is the quiet part most people forget:
 
Your job is not to follow the plan perfectly.
Your job is to keep going when the plan breaks.
 
To adjust.
To learn.
To take the next small step when the original path disappears.
 
God laughs.
Plans change.
 Progress still counts.
 
I don't have a big motivational message today.
 
Just a reminder.
 
Life isn't going to follow the outline you wrote last week.
 
And that's not a bug.
It's a feature.
 
Keep moving.
Keep becoming.
Even when the path looks nothing like you expected.
 
That still counts.
You might end up someplace better than you expected.

Your most valuable connections aren’t strangers.
They’re people you already know.

Every January, I see the same thing happen.
 
Smart, capable people feel pressure to have a networking plan.
 
New goals.
New contacts.
New conversations they are supposed to start.
 
For a lot of introverted professionals, that pressure is exactly what makes them stop.
 
The idea of building a brand-new network from scratch feels exhausting.

Too many unknowns.
Too much energy.
Too much noise.
 
Here's what I'll tell you:
 
You do not need a new network.
You already have one.
 
It is made up of people from earlier chapters of your life.

Former teammates.
Classmates.
Managers.
Clients.

Most of us forget about them.
 
These are called dormant ties.

Not because the relationship is gone, but because it's been inactive for a while.
 
Reconnecting with dormant ties is easier than meeting someone new.

There's already context.
There's already trust.
You're not starting from zero.
 
One practical shift that helps.
 
When you use LinkedIn, don't just look for people who are still at companies you worked for.
 
Search for people who used to work there and have moved on.
 
Former coworkers who now have new roles and new experiences often make for the best conversations.

They know where you came from and can speak honestly about what they have learned since.
 
The outreach doesn't need to be complicated.
 
A simple hello is enough.
 
No ask.
No pitch.
No agenda.
 
Just a genuine check-in.
 
If this sounds like a better way to start networking this year, I go much deeper into how to do this calmly and consistently in this week’s Introverted Networker.
 
The full breakdown is there if you want it.

https://lnkd.in/gqzKQVCj


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to join the mission to change the way the world feels about networking,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Subscribe to my newsletter-click link in the post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Open article: How to Restart Your Networking Without Starting Over by theintrovertednetworker.substack.com

How to Restart Your Networking Without Starting Over

LinkedIn feels like a lot for a reason.
You open it with good intentions.
Five minutes later, you’re tired.

Everyone’s posting.
Some are selling.
Some are performing.
Some are just loud.
 
So you scroll.
Close the app.
Tell yourself you’ll come back later.
 
If that’s you, you’re not doing it wrong.
 
Stop treating it like a stage.
Use it like a directory.
 
LinkedIn isn’t where relationships are built.

It’s where you find the next person to have the conversation with.
 
Connections lead to conversations.
Conversations lead to professional relationships.
 
That’s it.
 
When you stop trying to impress and start trying to locate, everything gets quieter.
 
One practical way to try this.
 
Pick one focus for the week.
Just one.
 
Not “use LinkedIn better.”
Something smaller.
 
Reconnect with former coworkers.
Learn about one company.
Meet a few people in a role you’re curious about.
 
Then look for people you already know, or are one step away from knowing.
 
Start there.
 
If you see a first-degree connection, send a simple note.
“Hey, it’s been a while. How are things going?”
 
No pitch.
No ask.
Just reopening the door.
 
If it’s a second-degree connection, add a short note when you connect.

Say why you reached out.
Ask one small question.
Give them an easy out.
 
That’s enough to start.
 
Most people avoid LinkedIn because they think they need to do everything at once.
 
You don’t.
 
One focus.
One conversation.
One small step at a time.
 
I wrote more about this, plus a simple weekly LinkedIn plan, in this week’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳.

If LinkedIn feels noisy to you, the full issue goes deeper:
https://lnkd.in/g5a3YTjW

Networking feels hard, even when the steps are simple.
Here’s why that’s normal.

Last week, after a webinar, someone asked me a fair question.
 
“Is networking really as easy as the steps you laid out?”
 
I’ve been thinking about that all week.
 
Because this is where a lot of smart, capable people get stuck.
 
𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆.
 
The approach I teach is simple on purpose.

Clear steps.
Fewer decisions.
Less noise.
 
But simple doesn't remove the human part.
 
Reaching out still feels a little vulnerable.
Waiting for a reply still creates tension.

Some conversations stall.
Some go quiet.
 
That doesn't mean you did it wrong.
It means you're dealing with real people.
 
𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀:
 
Stop asking, “Did this lead to something?”
Start asking, “Did I do the reps?”
 
Networking works more like strength training.
One workout rarely changes anything.
Consistency does.
 
A quiet way to measure progress looks like this:
 
One conversation this week.
One small act of generosity.
One follow up.
 
That counts, even if nothing obvious happens yet.
 
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀:
 
• Pick one person you already know.
• Send a short note.
• Ask for 15 minutes to catch up.
• No pitch.
• No agenda.
 
When it’s over, write down one thing you learned.
 
That’s progress.
 
I wrote more about this idea in this week’s Introverted Networker.

If this problem sounds familiar, the full issue goes deeper: https://lnkd.in/gZyvkqqa

Your likes aren’t building trust.
Your ears are.

It’s easy to feel like you’re connecting when you engage with a post.

But a comment is just a digital handshake.

It’s the start of a conversation, not the end of one.

Real trust happens when you move the chat offline.

Get on a call or a video meeting.

Once you’re there, practice the rarest skill in leadership.

Listen.

In "The Speed of Trust," Stephen M.R. Covey points out that listening is the foundation of every strong bond.

It’s also the behavior people practice the least.

Most of us are so busy planning what to say next that we don't actually hear what’s being said.

If you want to build a real relationship this week, stop pitching.

Just be the person who actually listens.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most people fail at networking for one simple reason:
Bad timing.
 
A lot of people start networking only when they need something.

A job lead.
An intro.
A favor. 

That puts you in a tough spot.
 
Because now every conversation carries weight.
Every message feels loaded.
Every ask feels risky.
 
Here's a calmer way to think about it.
 
Your network is built long before you need it.
 
The value comes from the small, unremarkable moments.

Listening.
Sharing something useful. 
Making an introduction with no expectation attached.
 
None of that feels urgent.
That's the point.
 
When you stay in touch without an agenda, you build trust without realizing it.

You create context.
You become familiar in a good way.
 
When you eventually do need help, the conversation feels different.

It doesn't feel like taking.

It feels like continuing something that already exists.
 
That's why some people seem “good at networking” without trying.

They're not better at asking.

They're better at staying connected when nothing is on the line.
 
If networking feels uncomfortable for you, try this shift:
 
Stop thinking about what you might need later.

Focus on who you can help now.
 
One short conversation.
One helpful moment.
One follow up.
 
That is usually enough to change the math over time.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

I talk a lot about networking. 
And building better workplaces.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most networking advice breaks down when you get busy.
It assumes you can:

Scale it.
Batch it.
Automate it.
 
But, networking doesn’t scale.
And it never did.
 
The reason it feels exhausting for smart, capable people is because they’re trying to treat it like a system instead of a relationship.
 
More tools.
More reach.
More volume.
 
That approach feels efficient.
But, it isn’t effective.
 
Real networks grow the opposite way.
 
Slow.
Personal.
A little inconvenient.
 
One person at a time.
 
You don’t need to “work your network.”
You need to pay attention to one person.
 
Someone you already know or almost know.
Someone you’re genuinely curious about.
Someone you can have a real conversation with.
 
That means sending a message you actually wrote.
Asking questions you care about.
Listening without waiting for your turn to talk.
 
It means offering help without attaching a hook.
And being clear when someone asks how they can help you.
 
None of this is flashy.
None of it looks impressive on the surface.
 
It also can’t be outsourced.
And it doesn’t respond well to shortcuts.
 
Here’s the truth:
 
This way feels slower at first.
Then momentum shows up.
Then it starts compounding.
 
Not because you optimized it.
But because people trust you.
 
If networking feels hard right now, try shrinking the goal.
 
Not more people.
Not better tactics.
 
Just one conversation this week.

Done with care.
Done without rushing.
 
That’s how it actually works.
And it’s enough to get started.

======================================

I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

Most people get networking backwards.


They fixate on the outcome.
 
The job.
The client.
The big opportunity.
 
That’s understandable.
It’s also where they get stuck.
 
Because networking doesn’t move in straight lines.
It moves in small, boring steps that don’t look impressive in the moment.
 
One conversation.
One follow-up.
One introduction you didn’t expect to matter.
 
You usually can’t see where any single connection will lead.
And that’s the point.
 
If you only focus on the destination, it feels vague and frustrating.
If you focus on what’s right in front of you, it gets simpler.
 
Who can I talk to this week?
Who do I already know that I’ve lost touch with?
What’s one honest conversation I can have?
 
Do that.
Then do it again.
 
You don’t need the full map.
You just need to keep moving forward.



I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

The best networkers today?
They’re not the loudest in the room.

Most networking advice still assumes one thing.
 
The people who win are the loudest ones.
 
The ones who always seem “on.”
The ones who work the room.
The ones who talk fast.
 
I don’t think that’s true anymore.
 
In fact, I think the skills that matter most right now look a lot more introverted.
 
Pay attention to what actually builds trust today.
 
It’s not volume.
It’s not charisma.
It’s not having the perfect pitch.
 
It’s presence.
 
People are tired of being talked at.
They’re tired of surface level conversations.
They’re tired of feeling like a transaction.
 
The people who stand out now are the ones who slow things down.
 
They ask a real question.
They listen long enough to understand the answer.
They remember what someone said last time and follow up on it.
 
That’s not flashy.
It doesn’t look impressive in the moment.

But it sticks.
 
Especially in a world where so much communication is rushed, shortened, or automated.
 
When you actually pay attention, you create contrast.
When you listen, people feel seen.
When you’re thoughtful, people trust you faster.
 
That’s not surviving in networking.
That’s leading it.
 
You don’t need to be louder.
You don’t need to be more aggressive.
You don’t need to turn yourself into someone you’re not.
 
You need to do what introverts already do well and do it on purpose.
 
One conversation.
One person.
One real exchange at a time.
 
That’s more than enough to move things forward.


I'm Greg, The Introverted Networker!

My mission is to change the way people feel about networking.

If you want to become a more confident networker,

Do one of these:
✅ Leave a comment: it tells the algo you want more
✅ Hit "View my newsletter" at the top of this post
✅ Share this post with your LinkedIn network

Doing these guarantees I'll be in your feed.

taplio

The Battle

Ian Christie

Greg Roche

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Performance ScoreIan Christie's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreGreg Roche's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Ian Christie

Greg Roche

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ian Christie's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreGreg Roche's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreIan Christie's LinkedIn Performance