Building or refining your network is a critical step in any board search. Before you begin reconnecting or reaching out to new people, it helps to map out the contacts you already have—and then prioritize which connections will be most helpful. A structured approach will ensure you spend your time effectively on the relationships most likely to uncover board opportunities. Below is a suggested process for identifying, consolidating, and categorizing your existing network, adapted from a framework originally developed by David A. Fields.
1. Consolidate All Contacts into One List
Export LinkedIn Contacts
- Download your LinkedIn connections as a CSV file.
- This captures names, job titles (as known at the time of connection), and—when available—email addresses.
Export Email Contacts
- Gather contacts from your primary email providers (e.g., Gmail, Outlook).
- Merge them into the same master spreadsheet.
Combine and Remove Duplicates
- Use spreadsheet functions or a simple manual check to identify overlapping entries.
- Keep the record with the most complete data (emails, phone numbers, roles, etc.) and delete or merge partial duplicates.
Supplement with Other Sources
- If you have old client lists, business cards from conferences, or membership directories from professional groups, add them in.
- The objective is to have one master file capturing every possible professional contact.
2. Classify Each Contact by Relationship Strength
Use three categories to label how well you know each person. This helps you quickly see where trust and familiarity already exist:
Strong Tie
- A close friend or colleague you have worked with extensively.
- Someone you could comfortably call at any moment, who knows your capabilities and work style.
Weak Tie
- An individual who would recognize you and have an opinion on your skills if you reached out.
- Examples: a project collaborator from a few years ago, a former classmate you occasionally chat with, or an ex-colleague who left your firm but remembers you well enough to assess your credibility.
Not Well Known
- People you may have only met once at a conference or connected with on LinkedIn without further engagement.
- They are aware of you superficially but don’t have a real sense of your track record or personal style.
3. Categorize Each Contact by Potential Role in Your Board Search
Consider the specific ways each individual can assist or influence your path to a board seat:
Decision Makers
- People directly in a position to add you to a board.
- Examples: board chairs, existing board directors, partners at PE firms who regularly appoint board members to portfolio companies, or senior executives who hold controlling interests.
Influencers
- Individuals who could recommend you for a board role or connect you to relevant opportunities.
- Examples: search firm consultants, ex-colleagues with robust networks, key figures in trade associations, or mentors with strong industry ties.
Everyone Else
- Contacts not likely to be directly involved in funneling board opportunities.
- They might still be professional acquaintances, but they aren’t typically in the “flow” of governance roles or don’t have the relationships needed to facilitate a board introduction.
4. Identify Your Core Network
Once each contact is labeled for both relationship strength and potential role, combine those two sets of criteria:
- Strong Tie or Weak Tie
- Decision Maker or Influencer
In other words, your most promising leads for board introductions or referrals are the people who know you well enough (Strong or Weak Ties) and who have actual relevance to a board search (Decision Makers or Influencers).
Contacts who are Not Well Known or fall into the Everyone Else category may not be immediate priorities. You can revisit them later or seek to build the relationship over time.
5. Practical Steps
Create Columns in Your Spreadsheet
- Name | Title / Organization | Relationship Strength (S/W/N) | Potential Role (DM/Inf/O) | Notes
- S = Strong Tie, W = Weak Tie, N = Not Well Known, DM = Decision Maker, Inf = Influencer, O = Others.
Sort & Filter
- Sort by Relationship Strength first, then by Potential Role.
- Create a subset list of your “Core Network,” which comprises the S/W + DM/Inf group.
Add Brief Notes
- Jot down any relevant history: projects, personal connections, or shared events.
- This helps you personalize outreach or plan conversation topics.
Prioritize Outreach
- Begin engaging or re-engaging with these core connections.
- Tailor your approach—strong ties may appreciate a more casual catch-up; weak ties might benefit from an update about your board goals and a respectful request for guidance or introductions.
