TIN #118 - What The Godfather Movies Won't Teach You About Professional Development
And Why Internal Networking Is the Key To Growing In Your Career
"It's not personal. It's strictly business" - Michael Corleone, The Godfather
Every one remembers this line (It’s at 2:00 in the clip above. If you want to skip to it).
However, this line does not apply to your professional development.
Professional development is deeply personal.
It’s up to each of us—not our employers—to decide where we want to go and how we’ll get there.
Sure, companies may promise growth opportunities, training programs, and development paths, but ultimately, no one can shape our careers for us.
Companies can only create an environment that encourages growth; we must choose how to leverage it.
This issue takes about 5 minutes to read…
Before We Get Started:
My online course, “5 Steps To Grow Your Professional Network,” is FREE for all my newsletter subscribers. Learn the process I use everyday to grow my professional network.
Each week, I post a new podcast. This week’s episode is a little different because I used Google’s NotebookLM to generate it. Be sure to see what AI thinks of my content and check out the previous episodes of the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more networking tips and insights.
Who Should Define Your Professional Development Path?
During performance reviews or another once a year conversation with your boss, you've talked about personal development, or career development, or an individual development plan.
Whatever it was called, you and your boss talked about all the ways you could develop in your career.
The truth is, your boss, manager, leader, and organization are not responsible for your personal development.
When it comes to your personal development, it's not business, it's always, well, "personal."
I'm not talking about skill training to do your job. It's in your organization's best interest to make sure you have the skills to do your job well.
I'm talking about the development experiences and opportunities that help you become a better employee, manager, or leader.
The only thing the organization needs to do is provide an environment where growth is encouraged.
If you really want to grow in your career, then you need to make your professional development personal.
You need to come up with your own development plan instead of waiting for your annual review.
Not sure what that means? It means figuring out what interests you and then finding the people in your organization who can teach you more about them.
The Best Way To Do This: Internal Networking
Networking Internally: The Key to Personal Professional Development
Creating an internal network within your organization can be more valuable than following any set path or course.
Networking internally means finding mentors, allies, and guides who have walked a path you might be interested in.
These connections help you explore various career avenues and gather insights, skills, and ideas that are specific to your journey.
To get started:
Identify People to Connect With: Who has the experience or role you aspire to? Seek out individuals who can provide insights on potential career paths.
Reach Out and Have Conversations: Set up meetings, have coffee chats, and approach them with curiosity about their journey.
Build a Network of Mentors: These connections can offer advice and introduce you to others, helping you shape a development path that feels right.
This kind of proactive networking goes beyond formal training and helps you create a tailored development plan rooted in real experiences and relationships.
Overcoming Networking Barriers
Many people feel intimidated by internal networking.
Common barriers include:
Time: It feels hard to find a moment in a busy schedule.
Not Knowing Where to Start: Who should you reach out to, and what should you say?
Feeling Awkward: Social anxiety, especially for introverts, can make the process feel unnatural.
If this sounds familiar, remember that internal networking shares the same principles as external networking: start with small steps, find common ground, and don’t put pressure on yourself to become best friends with everyone.
Try these steps to make it manageable:
Block Out Time: Dedicate even 15 minutes a week to a conversation or meeting.
Prepare Conversation Starters: Think of questions about their role, career path, or advice they would offer someone in your position.
Be Curious, Not Transactional: Focus on learning from others and giving value where you can. You are not doing this to ask for favors.
Why Companies Should Invest In Personal Professional Development
If you’re a leader, this skill is worth building into your organization’s culture.
Teaching employees to connect internally fosters a collaborative environment and empowers them to define their development.
It also boosts trust and communication across departments, aligning with Stephen M.R. Covey's Speed of Trust philosophy—when trust goes up, so does the speed and effectiveness of the organization.
Encouraging employees to build meaningful internal relationships is a win-win: they grow their skills, and the company gains more engaged and knowledgeable team members.
Final Thoughts
Whether networking inside or outside of work, the same principles apply.
Building relationships takes effort but yields high rewards.
If you’re looking to enrich your career and take ownership of your path, start by connecting within your organization.
And if you’re leading a team, consider incorporating internal networking training into your development programs.
This Week’s Challenge: Reach out to someone new at your workplace—a colleague, mentor, or leader—and have a conversation. Learn about their role, their journey, and their advice.