Professional Networking Map
This is your go-to tool for seeing your professional network in a whole new way.
The Professional Networking Map is a tool to help you see your career connections clearly, spot gaps, and uncover opportunities to nurture relationships. Whether you’re job searching, building a business, or growing your influence, this template turns your mental list of contacts into a visual, actionable map.
What It’s About
Place yourself in the center (or the left or right, depending on your preference), then branch out to people you know and those you’d like to know. Assign each connection a color based on one of the Networking Categories:
Close Allies / Champions – Strong advocates, like mentors, trusted colleagues, or former bosses.
Warm Connections – People you’ve worked with or interacted with a few times and could rekindle.
Strategic Targets – People you want to connect with intentionally because of shared goals or opportunities.
Dormant / Cold Connections – People you’ve met but haven’t engaged with in a while.
Clients / Prospects – Ideal or potential clients, if relevant to your work.
Aspirational Mentors – Professionals you admire and hope to meet.
Color coding gives you a quick snapshot of relationship strength, where you have momentum, and where to focus outreach.
What It Helps You Achieve
Understand the scope and strength of your network.
Identify relationship gaps and opportunities.
Prioritize who to engage with now vs. later.
Reconnect with dormant contacts.
Be intentional about new connections.
Who Will Benefit Most
This tool is great for job seekers, leaders, entrepreneurs, freelancers, early-career professionals, and community builders who want to approach networking with focus and intention.
How to Use It
Start with you.
Add names of current and desired connections.
Assign each a Networking Category color.
Spot patterns and gaps.
Decide on your next outreach moves.
Update regularly as your network grows and shifts.
Remember, strong networking is about relationships, not transactions. This map helps you see, strengthen, and grow them with purpose, before you need them.
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