Ask Others to Join You

This is the final installment in my series about building an advisory team for networking.  So far, I’ve covered:

1. Clarity—is a team the right way for you to expand your network and hone your skills?
2. Logistics—the make-or-break aspect of advisory team building.
3. Reciprocity—giving to and receiving from your team members, in balance.

Now, I’ll move on to the process of inviting people to join your professional networking team.

Simple on the Surface

The concept of inviting people may seem simple on the surface—identify who you want on your team and invite them to join.  However, it’s not only important who you ask—it matters how you ask.  Even if you plan to invite people informally in a conversation, I strongly recommend following up in writing.  That way, you’re both on the same page, literally.  And, it shows your respect for the invitee, as well as your commitment to being thorough in building your team. 

A well written invitation—electronic or hard copy—gives a person all the details they need up front to make an informed choice about joining your team. 

Unique connections

You have a unique connection with each person you want to invite.  Take that into account before you write to them.  Consider various aspects of your relationship such as, “How long have I known Peggy?”  “How formal do I need to be?”  “Why exactly am I choosing to invite Henry and what does he need to know about my plans?”

You also need to be aware of how much they already know—if anything—about your plan to form a team.  This knowledge will guide you in setting the note's tone, length and wording.

It’s all in the details

Below is my suggested format for your written invitation.  Since everything about your letter—the formality, length and tone—should be based on your unique relationship with each person, be sure to adjust these aspects of your note to personalize it.  I’ll use a fictitious person named “Max” to illustrate this:

• Greeting.  This is how you open your letter, i.e., “Dear Max”; or “Hello, Max”; or “Hey!”

• Purpose of your note.   The purpose sets the context for the invitation, so I recommend placing it near the beginning of your letter.  Explain why you are forming this group.  If you want Max’s input on shaping the purpose of the group, let him know.

  
  

  
  

• Explanation of why you are inviting him, in particular.  Here’s a great place to go even further with personalization.  You need to let Max know “why him” out of all the people you could have selected.  This is a natural place to acknowledge any networking related attributes he has, such as gracious communication; skills at connecting people, etc.

  
  

  
  

• Statement about follow up.  It’s important to let Max know the next step after your letter.  Don't assume that he knows, or that he will contact you after reading your note.  You can say things like, “Thanks for your time reading my note, Max.  I’ll contact you early next week to see if you have any questions.”  Or, “Please feel free to contact me before then.”  Or, “I know you are in the middle of month end tasks, so I will send you an email to set up a meeting the first week of next month.”

  
  

  
  

• Appropriate closing.  This is as simple as the greeting, and caps off your note.  Here are some ideas for you:  “Sincerely, Jenny”; “Take care and thanks for your time.  Jenny”.  “Talk to you soon--Jenny.”

Written notes let others know your intentions—the “who, what, where, when and why” of your plan for the team.  They can also double as part of a checklist you use when creating your team.  Give it a try!  It makes a big difference in the ease of setting up your team.

If you’d like more information about building a custom team for networking, see my guide series at www.creatinganadvisoryboard.com.