The 3 Most Important People to Stay in Touch With (and How to Do It)

The 3 Most Important People to Stay in anflug With (and How to Do It)The 3 Most Important People to Stay in Touch With (and How to Do It)When it comes to networking, there are the easy people to stay in touch with. The old co-worker you still get monthly drinks with. The connections you see regularly at industry functions. Your first boss.But I probably dont have to tell you that the easy way out isnt always the best. Given the unpredictability of work (i.e., you never know when youre going to need your connections the most) and of networking (think the rolle youre certain will open doors is on a month-long tour of Europe), staying in touch with a wide array of contacts is more important than you might think. In other words, when youre thinking about building and fostering your network, dont simply reach out to the most obvious contacts. In particular, be sure to make time to connect with the three kinds of people below.1. Someone Who Pushed You to Do Your BestWhether it was a coach, a professor, or an interim supervisor, someone in your past pushed you- hard. This rolle always called you out for phoning it in and constantly made sure you were giving your all. At first, you may be inclined to stay in touch only with those who thought you were amazing from the get-go. But think about it The person who pushed you not only thought you were great- he or she saw that you had even more potential. And when it comes to future career opportunities? Thats definitely someone you want on your side.So, how should you keep in touch? This person was pushing you to be your best, so a great time to reach out is when youre killing it- when, say, youve earned a big promotion or received an award. Fill your contact in on your latest accomplishments, thank him or her for all the support over the years- and then ask for any advice on how you can continue to grow (because you know youll get it).2. A Contact Who Offered to Put in a Good WordSimilarly, someone who has once put his or h er neck out for you obviously knows your worth. He or she is in your corner (and, assuming you lived up to expectations, will likely recommend you again). Now the key is realizing that theres a difference between someone who gives you a strong reference when you ask for it- and someone who offers to put in a good word for you. The latter is the sort of person who will brainstorm with you when youre in need of contacts in a new city or if youre looking to change fields. Whenever you find yourself in transition, this person should be one of your first calls. Tell him or her what youre hoping to do, and then ask if he or she has any contacts or advice. 3. The Best Assistant (or Intern) EverYouve probably heard you shouldnt strictly network up (i.e., only with people in higher positions than you are). Because that person in a support role who knocked your socks off wont be in a support role forever.However, while networking should happen in all directions, unless there is a strong socia l component- e.g., you two used to hang out outside of work- reaching out to a former supervisor can feel like imposing. Meaning, someone who worked for you in a support role is unlikely to reach out to you unless he or she needs a reference.So, as the former supervisor, you should take the lead in connecting with your former employee. Send a quick email or facebook inc message to inquire how his new job is going, or bond over bumping into a colorful contact shell be sure to remember.When thinking about who from your past you should reconnect with, dont sell yourself short by only reaching out to former bosses. Think broadly about your past contacts, and use the tips above to expand your network.Photo of woman on phone courtesy of Shutterstock.