Promotions and opportunities can happen unexpectedly, but for career progression to be sustainable it requires a more intentional and proactive approach. Building the right professional networks is a subtle strategy for achieving this.
“Career advancement rarely happens by accident, so there’s little point waiting for opportunities to come your way,” says Jennifer Grove, a Partner for Gerard Daniels. “Rather, the people that successfully move into senior leadership roles are committed to growing their careers and structured in their approach to setting goals, undertaking professional development and maintaining diverse professional networks.”
An advocacy network is an extension of the traditional professional network that can help individuals to navigate and grow their career. Here Jennifer explores the value of advocacy for senior leaders and how to build and utilise this type of network.
What is the role of advocacy in growing your career?
Building the right type of relationships is an important part of career advancement. According to Jennifer, these relationships can take many different forms and serve many different purposes.
“Most people appreciate the value of engaging with coaches and mentors to refine their skills and experience; and the need to build a network of referees who can endorse past performance and professional achievements when they put themselves forward for new roles,” she says. “But to continue shaping and advancing your career a much broader support requirement exists – building an advocacy network can help to fill this gap.”
Advocacy networks allow individuals to very intentionally shape and advance their career. “Where mentors can help you to set and grow towards your career goals; and referees speak directly to their experience working with you; advocacy networks can be called on to help in different ways,” says Jennifer.
Advocacy networks can:
- Provide informal referrals for new roles
- Strategically connect you with other professionals
- Offer honest and constructive feedback that helps you to navigate changes in your career
- Grow your exposure by broadly endorsing your skills, attributes, character and approach. For example, this can include your leadership style; your values; and how effectively you communicate.
Advocacy networks also provide a way for people to support the career progression of others, without the pressure and convention of being a formal referee. “This type of network can be particularly helpful at senior levels when a high degree of confidentiality is required, or when people are preparing to transition into a different industry or job function,” says Jennifer.
Building your advocacy network
Where traditional networks predominantly consist of mentors and referees, advocacy networks are more strategic and can include anyone that you connect with professionally. For example, you may choose to build this type of relationship with current and former colleagues; professionals that you meet via referral; while serving on Boards and committees; or through industry working groups and associations.
“As the name suggest, your advocacy network is made up of the individuals that you choose to proactively advocate for you in the marketplace,” says Jennifer. “Not everyone in your advocacy network can speak directly to your past or current performance, but they can advocate for you in different and equally important ways.”
The diversity of this type of network allows individuals to be quite purposeful and strategic in who they choose as advocates. This is important, because choosing the right people to back you in this way can have a profound impact on your career, connecting you with new opportunities, aiding in your professional development and broadening your exposure and reach.
“To build any type of network you must spend time in environments that expose you to the right type of people and the right type of opportunities. Therefore, building your advocacy network means consistently putting yourself out there and getting involved,” Jennifer continues. “As we all lead busy lives, choosing endeavours that allow you to combine a professional purpose with something you have a genuine interest in, can help you to grow your network and stick to the commitment that you make and the career goals that you set.”
The role of advocacy in Executive search
Your advocacy network becomes more important the further you advance in your career. It also plays an important role in Executive search – as the stronger your network, the greater your exposure in the market, and the more likely it is that someone understands your capability and career goals, to be able to endorse and speak on your behalf.
“Given the sensitive nature of senior appointments, consultants often rely on informal referrals and value the feedback provided by advocacy networks for broader context on a candidate’s suitability,” says Jennifer. “Advocacy networks also help to bring new Executive talent to our attention, widening the talent pool for senior appointments. Building your advocacy network therefore increases your likelihood of being found and put forward for new leadership roles and other career growth opportunities.”
For advice on building your advocacy network, or help finding and developing the right talent to drive your team forward, connect with Jennifer – or reach out to your local Gerard Daniels team.
