Skip to content Is Your Workplace Really Looking Out for You?
Let’s talk about how to stay grounded when everything at work, and in the country (quite frankly) feel up in the air—whether it’s DEI programs disappearing or the shifting political climate making things tense. We’ll cover how to focus on what you can control, build a solid network, and get clear on where your company really stands on equity. Think of this as a guide to help you navigate the unknown and set yourself up to thrive, no matter what’s happening around you.
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This blog will help you:
Ready to strengthen your network and head into the new year with intention? Let’s dive in.
Before you can nurture your network, you need to identify the people who’ve been instrumental in your career this year. Take a moment to think about:
Action Tip: Create a short list of the five most impactful relationships you’ve had this year. Write down one specific way each person contributed to your growth.
Gratitude is a simple yet powerful way to maintain and strengthen connections. The key is to make it personal and specific. Instead of generic “thanks for everything” messages, highlight what the person did and why it mattered to you.
How You Can Show Your Gratitude:
Action Tip: Send personalized notes via email or handwritten cards. If possible, invite them for coffee or a virtual chat to express your gratitude directly.
If you’ve fallen out of touch with key connections, year-end networking events are a great way to reconnect. These events offer a casual yet professional setting to check in with peers, mentors, and even new potential connections.
Where to Find Events:
Attending these events not only strengthens your existing network but also helps expand it, introducing you to people who can play a critical role in your professional development in 2025.
Action Tip: Before attending, prepare a short “year-in-review” story about your career progress and goals. This makes it easier to spark meaningful conversations.
While group events are great, nothing beats a personalized conversation. Use this time of year to schedule one-on-ones with your key connections to reflect on the year and discuss future opportunities.
Conversation Starters:
These conversations show genuine interest in their perspective and can strengthen your relationship.
Action Tip: Offer to treat them to coffee, lunch, or even a virtual meeting if in-person isn’t feasible.
The relationships you nurture now can continue to grow in the new year—but only if you’re intentional. A connection plan ensures you’re staying top of mind with your network, even when life gets busy.
Ideas for Your Plan:
Action Tip: Make a list of three new connections you want to establish next year and find relevant networking events or groups to build those relationships.
Your career isn’t just built on skills or accomplishments—it thrives on the relationships you cultivate. As you close out the year, take the time to reflect, express gratitude, and intentionally nurture your connections. Whether it’s reaching out to a mentor, attending a networking event on Meetup.com, or sending a thoughtful note to an advocate, these small actions can have a big impact on your professional journey.
The main benefit of this “press tour” concept is keeping my momentum going. When it comes to networking, your work is never finished. At some point, you become the person people are trying to meet—and that’s what you’re working toward. But something with such abstract benefits can be hard to get out of bed for. But when I’m tempted to bed rot after a day of work instead of putting on my networking outfit and leaving the house, I pump myself up by reopening my vision board and remembering that if I want my life to feel like a movie, I have to go on the press tour.
he key to 2025 isn’t just setting ambitious career goals—it’s building the network to help you achieve them. Let’s make it a year of connection and growth.
For more career chats, check them out here.
Crazy Curls & Career Confessions
Share your wildest work or hair story anonymously. I’ll share advice via the career chats page on how to navigate them.
Let’s be real—this is a strange time to be a working professional. DEI programs are quietly and loudly disappearing, political shifts are stirring workplace tensions, and it feels like we’ve hit backspace on a few decade’s worth of progress within a week. If you’re like me, you’re wondering what all this means for your career goals and how to stay grounded when things feel unpredictable.
Here’s the thing: most of us can’t control what happens at the top, but we absolutely can control how we navigate the spaces we’re in. This post is for you if you’ve been feeling uneasy, questioning the future, and wondering how to keep thriving when the environment feels shaky. Let’s talk about where to focus your energy and how to take the next best step, even when the road ahead feels unclear.
Pay Attention to the Signs
In times like these, it’s important to be honest about your company’s stance.
Knowing where your company stands helps you make informed decisions. It doesn’t mean you have to jump ship tomorrow, but it allows you to recalibrate.
Knowing where your company stands allows you to make informed decisions to assess & recalibrate your situation.
Focus On What You Can Control
When the world feels out of control, it’s easy to feel powerless. But here’s the truth: you hold more power than you think. This is the moment to focus on the things you can control—your career goals, your professional development, and how you show up. How can you use where you are at now for your future aspirations?
Ask yourself:
The big wins may take time, but the small, intentional steps you take every day build momentum. Protect your peace, prioritize your energy, and focus on the things you can do today to create the next move and a career path that feels right for you.
Build Your Village: Your Career’s Safety Net
What they said is the truth. Your network truly is your net worth, and your community becomes everything. Having people who genuinely support your growth can shift your career experience entirely.
This is who you need in your corner or what I call your Board of Directors:
Your village isn’t just about career moves—it’s about emotional support and encouragement. Having a solid network means you’re never facing these challenges alone.
The Bigger Picture: Thriving in Uncertainty
The workplace might feel uncertain right now, but here’s what I want you to remember: you’ve weathered tough seasons before, and you’ll do it again. By staying informed, leaning into your network, and focusing on what you can control, you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving and being intentional. This isn’t about waiting for the company to fix itself. It’s about knowing your worth, playing the game strategically, and making moves that serve your growth.
The future may feel unclear, but you’ve got everything you need to navigate it with confidence. Because the truth is, the road ahead isn’t just about what’s happening around you—it’s about what’s happening within you. Keep building, keep growing, and remember: you’ve got this.
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Love this post! Two more things I would add (from the POV of a Communications leader):
1) Remember that if you are hiring that YOU control things like diverse slates and diverse evaluation panels, regardless of if they are currently mandated or not. Do the right thing and ask the right questions of your peers on an individual level.
2) There’s a chance that your company may get quiet about DEI initiatives while still doing them. Don’t assume that just because your company isn’t making public statements of support that they aren’t in support – they may be laying low to avoid the spotlight because they don’t want to risk call-outs publicly that could trigger them to dampen the efforts. Actions > Words
Your number 2 is correct. My company have not said anything publicly and barely saying anything internal either. We have no idea what the stance is but told there is no change. So I guess stay out of the public eye on this one. But it’s good to not assume.