So you want to be introduced to someone? Here’s the right way to do it.
There will inevitably come a time when you want or need to be introduced to someone. It could be for an informational interview about a company or industry, a job referral, funding for your startup, or any number of things. These introductions are an important benefit of the ongoing work of building, maintaining, and nurturing your professional networks. Introductions require spending social capital, so you want to ensure the people you ask to introduce you to others think highly of your skills and character. Beyond that, you also want to make the work of an introduction as low a lift for them as possible.
Over the years, I’ve found there are a few rules of engagement for asking for and receiving introductions.
Be clear on your why and your what [the ask]. This seems obvious, but do your homework on the target. If you’re asking for an introduction to a person, you’ve probably done at least a bit of research about them. But it pays to go one level deeper, if only to make yourself stand out from however many other people are also asking for their time (this is especially true for senior and/or high profile people). Research their background and their accomplishments. What have they done that makes YOU so keen to talk to them? And what specifically do you hope to gain from speaking with them? Be…
