How To Find Great Supporters Who Will Nurture Your Growth

In my Amazing Career Project coaching program and in my client work, I’m fortunate to witness first-hand hundreds of dreams and visions being birthed into the world – new products and services, new businesses launching, new books and films under development, new methods for teaching, leading, and educating, and more. There is so much creativity and innovation today in our world – it’s inspiring.

I’ve also seen many new inventions and ideas die on the vine without the proper support, encouragement and feedback. The most important form of support that keeps an idea going and brings it into being is your support network – your “ambassadors” – people who believe in you without reservation and spread the word about the value and importance of your endeavors, and open crucial doors for you. The “right” kind of supporters will also raise a red flag when you’re heading down the wrong path, and won’t be afraid to offer you tough feedback you may not want to hear.

The reality is that without these people in your corner, you won’t create the success you dream of. You can’t do what you want to in the world (if it’s of any importance) alone or in a vacuum.

How do you go about building a powerhouse support network? Here are 5 tips:

Surround yourself with caring, generous, brilliant people

I often ask my clients, “Who are your role models?” If they don’t have any, I know they’re isolated, slogging through their challenges alone, not connected to people who inspire them. If this sounds familiar, go out and make new friends, build your contacts, get out there in the world (online and in person) and connect with people who are 10 steps ahead of you, doing what you want to in the way you want to. Realize that you need others in your life to help you grow.

Here’s a personal example: There was a time years ago when I felt very disconnected from the coaching community here in the U.S. and from the organizations that support the industry of coaching (because it seemed they were aimed only at making money and not providing true support). And I just couldn’t find coaches I felt were getting it “right” in terms of helping people move forward in their businesses and careers. Now I know this – if out of the thousands of coaches in the world I can’t find 20 who inspire me, the problem isn’t with them, it’s with me. Don’t let your inner narcissist fool you into thinking that no one can teach you about your work, or inspire you to be better. Find people you admire, surround yourself with them, and learn from them.

Be of service to your supporters

Once you start building a powerful network, support those in your network. Ask how you can help your ambassadors and supporters. What do they need that you can offer and provide? What doors can you open and connections can you make for them? Don’t focus your efforts solely on YOU and how you want to make more money. Think about important ways you can help the people in your network and community thrive and grow.

Why? First, it feels fabulous and enlivening to be of service and use your talents and gifts in ways that help others. Secondly, it is highly generative and creates more growth for all involved. As your supporters grow and flourish, so will you.

Here’s a tip: Once a week, send an email to great new supporter, and ask how you can help.

Speak up openly and boldly about your new work

You can’t move forward with your idea if you won’t talk about it. People are resistant to share about their new ideas for two key reasons: 1) they’re afraid their ideas will be stolen, or 2) they fear their idea isn’t good enough.

Yes, in certain circumstances you do need to keep your innovative ideas to yourself until a specific point in the development path. But in general, if you won’t talk about what you’re doing and working on, you can’t build support for it. For example, some clients of mine have tried to launch a new business simply through publishing a website, thinking that one step is enough. It’s not. You need to build buzz and excitement for your new endeavors, and that’s done by communicating and sharing through every means available to you, for months. As my great editor of my book Breakdown, Breakthrough, Johanna Vondeling, shared – you never want to launch into a vacuum. And you need your friends, colleagues, supporters and ambassadors to share the news as well.

Be brave and ask for critique

Most people hate giving critique, and hate getting it even more. But opening yourself up to hearing how you can develop and grow is essential to your success. Be brave – ask your 10 most respected and relied-upon supporters to share what they think – about ways you can improve how you’re working and what you’re focused on. Ask about your communication style, your relationship skills, your personal presence and public image, your reputation, your business planning approaches, your marketing efforts, your financial planning – about anything that matters to you and your career. Don’t shy away from this input. You don’t have to catch every ball that’s thrown at you, certainly, but if you don’t ask for honest, open feedback from people you admire and respect, you may be missing out on the one piece of critical info that could help you revise your course and create much more success.

Don’t be stingy – share what you know

I’m a member of number of LinkedIn groups that I love, and in these groups, we all share questions, advice, insights and ideas in the discussions. Today, for example, I received a question about how to go about creating a safe space on the phone with clients to help them feel heard and understood. Interestingly, I’ve heard from other professionals who’ve told me they would never share with their competitors insights about how they conduct their business or build more success. They’re stingy with their knowledge, stingy with their time, stingy with their hopes for success for others. They want to keep it all to themselves.

Most of us realize, however, that those “scarcity” fears (“There’s not enough out there, and I have to keep it all to myself”) just lead to more scarcity. I’ve worked with authors who, too, are afraid of sharing their knowledge in the media for fear their book won’t sell if they’re giving away their insights for free. I’ve found that nothing could be farther from the truth. The more you share what you know, the more you are valued, appreciated and sought after.

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In the end, you cannot build the success you dream of, alone. Reach out today and begin building a larger community and network that will support, inspire and educate you – and help you be all you want to be in the world.

What actions have you taken that have helped you build a supportive network and community?

(For more about career success development, take my free teleclass on Career Breakthrough, and join me in my Career Success Training program this week on Power Networking, Mentors, and Building a Strong Support Community.)

Originally posted on Forbes.