If
you want to establish a strong network of contacts and friends in your life,
you'll need to master the art of staying in touch.
Throughout
the years, you're going to meet a lot of people. Some will be co-workers, others
will be bosses or employees. Some will be acquaintances, others will be close
friends. Some will be boyfriends or girlfriends.
As
your life progresses, it's only natural that you'll drift apart from the people
that you used to be close with.
If
you really want to have a strong network however - A network of people who'll
make introductions for you, invite you to events, help you professionally, etc
- Staying in touch with old contacts is crucial.
Here's
how to stay in touch with people, even once they're not an active part of your
life.
Call Every 6 Months
Every
6 months or so, make an effort to touch base with someone with a phone call.
The
call doesn't have to be long. Even if you're just on the phone for 5 to 10
minutes, that's all you really need.
The
phone call lets you catch up with one another. More importantly, it's a
gesture. You let them know that they're still important enough to you that
you'll pick up the phone and call the.
Do
this for everyone you want to stay in touch with and they'll still remember
you, even if you haven't seen them in ages.
Using Social Networks to Stay in Touch
Today,
just about everyone is on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. This makes it very
easy to stay in touch with people who you don't see anymore.
There
are definitely benefits and drawbacks to using social networks to stay in
touch.
On
one hand, you get to touch base with the people whom you haven't seen in a long
time. On the other hand, social networks create the sense that you're staying
in touch, while usually only giving you very superficial exchanges.
Commenting
on status updates or tweeting at someone isn't the same as calling them,
writing them or seeing them in person. Though social networks are a great way
to at least stay in someone's peripheral vision, if you really want to keep a
relationship alive it makes sense to try and touch base some other way as well.
Writing Them an Email or Postcard
Finally,
a good way to stay in touch is to write them a personalized email or postcard.
If
it's their birthday, their anniversary or any other meaningful day, receiving a
physical postcard in the mail can really make a difference. In today's internet
age, few people still send physical mail. When you do, it stands out.
If
you're someone who prefers to write rather than call, sending them a
personalized "just touching base" email can be a great way to stay in
touch.
These
are three different ways you can stay in touch with people as you move through
different social circles in life. Don't just leave your old friends behind -
Stay in touch. It takes some effort, but the rewards pay for themselves.
0 comments:
Post a Comment