From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding and Profitable Networking Made Easy, 2nd Edition

As the chair of a meeting, take time to learn techniques that will ensure meetings are respectful of attendees and their time.

Closing the Loop

When a person makes a recommendation or connects you with an individual, close the loop on the situation. Just a quick note, such as the following, will work: “Thanks for connecting me with so-and-so. We're going to meet on Monday to see if there is potential to collaborate” or “Thanks for the recommendation; she's a great accountant.”

Tying up loose ends shows respect for the person who opened and shared his network with you. On a few occasions when I've set people up with potential employers, I didn't find out they got the job until months later. A quick update with the happy news would have gone a long way to solidifying our professional relationship.

It's also professional to keep people updated on progress if they've offered you assistance or support, whether it's sponsoring a cause, cheering you on as you look for work, or mentoring you as you start your career.