Find Your Networking Bridge on September 11 and Every Other Day of the Year

I just returned from an amazing two-day beach retreat with a group of colleagues I deeply admire and respect. We talked business, but we also bonded as friends, sharing stories about our lives, our hopes, and our dreams.

The relationships and friendships I have developed with colleagues over the years have influenced my career more than any other work-related project ever could. It’s often the little moments with colleagues; the chat about weekend plans, a family event, or a future life goal that cement strong work relationships and build rapport and trust and a robust network of advocates who can help you throughout your career.

I pause and think about the power of these relationships every year on September 11. Prior to 2001, I worked in the building adjacent to the World Trade Center that was connected by a long indoor bridge. Colleagues would routinely walk across that bridge to get to their offices and during the trek would chat about what seemed to be nothing but were really the brief conversations that over the course of time helped solidify the relationship. The conversations on the bridge served as the link between colleague and friend. That physical bridge disappeared on September 11, 2001, but the relationships remain, stronger than ever. Find your bridge between colleague and friend and nurture it to build great relationships that feed your soul and your career.

September 11 reminds me of great chaos and incredible loss. But being with extraordinary thought leaders and genuine friends on a beautiful beach on September 11 reminds me of beauty, rejuvenation, and hope. Sometimes the work world feels chaotic, but amazing colleagues who become friends help keep the possibility of doing great and meaningful work alive.