Keep a network useful
Relevance and reciprocity matter more than collecting another connection.
Make a specific contribution
Share a question, a source or an observation that another professional can use. Explain the context and keep the message short enough to respond to. A useful contribution does not need to be a major publication; it needs to be relevant and considered.
Respect professional boundaries
Do not assume a connection is permission for repeated sales messages or requests for confidential information. Ask before moving a conversation into a different channel. Trust develops when participants can control how they engage.
Stay in the conversation
Return to discussions, acknowledge a thoughtful answer and update colleagues when circumstances change. These small habits turn a list of names into an active professional community. The strongest network is one in which people can both ask and contribute.