Book the Coffee: Reconnect With Your Professional Network
Stop Saying “We Must Catch Up” and Put a Date in the Diary
Today October 1st is International Coffee Day and somewhere in your phone is the name of someone you’ve been meaning to have a coffee with for about three years
You’ve probably sent each other ‘we must catch up’ six times and then carried on being terribly busy until another year went sailing by
Book
The
Coffee
After years of working you’ve got former colleagues and clients and people you genuinely liked who now know different people and work in places you know absolutely not a cracker about
A proper conversation can help you understand how an industry is changing or introduce you to work you hadn’t considered or remind somebody what you’re good at
And you might have something useful for them too
Start with one person and make the invitation easy to answer;
‘It’s been ages and I’d love to hear how things are going with you
Are you free for a coffee next Tuesday or Thursday?
Half an hour and my shout’
If you’re exploring a career move then say so and explain what advice you’d value so they can decide if they can help
When you meet PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY and ask what they’re working on and what’s changed since you last spoke
Then ask a follow-up about something they’ve actually said instead of waiting for your turn to deliver the already in your head just waiting to go super clever comment
If they ask what you’re looking for give them something they can remember
‘I’m looking for an operations role where I can help a growing team get organised and stop the same customer problems coming back every week’
That gives them more to work with than ‘I’m open to anything’ and leaves plenty of time to hear about their life too
Afterwards send a proper thank you and follow through on anything you offered because remembering to send that useful contact matters more than your performance over a cappuccino
The coffee might lead to an introduction next month or a useful idea today or simply a friendship you’re glad you made time for
You won’t know beforehand and you don’t need every conversation to get a job lead for it to matter
Your dog can turn a five-minute coffee stop into a full social event because she’s greeting the regulars and collecting pats while you’re still deciding what to order
You thought you were popping in for a flat white and apparently she’s got three people to catch up with
That’s The Dog Code in your career
Make the time and pay attention and give people a reason to be glad they saw you
Your life is not a dress rehearsal so live like someone left the gate open
Make your next conversation count
The Dog Code gives you practical ways to listen closely, build trust and make stronger connections in your career and everyday life
Explore The Dog Code book and audio