3 Professional Contacts You Dont Need in Your Network - The Muse

3 Professional Contacts You Dont Need in Your Network - The Muse3 Professional Contacts You Dont Need in Your NetworkEveryone has that fantasy about their last day at a horrible company- the day when they can finally send that emaille to the entire team, outlining everything thats wrong with the organizational structure, with the way annual goals are formed, and more specifically, with the person you report to.Then that day comes and you instead send out a short, sweet email promising to keep in touch with everyone. (Heres my personal Gmail you type, to drive the point home.) And you do that because its the smart choice. While your original draft may have been chock-full of brutal truths the CEO needs to hear- it would also probably burn all your bridges.And from day one in the professional world, were told not to burn bridges. After all, you never know when youll need to reach out to an old boss to ask for a reference. Or, email a former colleague who now has major pull at your drea m company. Or, even an intern who showed up late every day but currently works for your career idol.But, what if tzu siche are bridges you need to burn? What if (metaphorically) setting a fire to a few professional connections could make your life a whole lot easier? Well, Im here to tell you that there are people you absolutely should break up with, professionally speaking, and it will indeed make your life easier. Better yet, you can do it so nicely that you wont actually burn any bridges at all. So, with no further ado, here are three people you should bid adieu to this year 1. The Former Co-worker You Have Nothing in Common WithThe two of you originally bonded over your insane boss rambling emails and insistence upon keeping you up to date on his ailing hamsters health. Before long your friendship evolved from the Hi Gchat to the Lets grab drinks after work text to the My friends asked if were dating because I talk about you so much conversation. Truth be told, you couldnt get t hrough your day without him.But then, three jobs later, you realize over your monthly happy hour that you actually have nothing in common. At all. Turns out that getting nostalgic over your managers hamster eulogy isnt that funny anymore, and you find yourself resorting to weather talk before the drinks are even done.Burn That BridgeLook, your former co-worker probably feels the same way. The two of you are just doing this out of habit now. So, while you dont want to just go MIA, you can pull the Im so busy card the next time he suggests you hang out. (And if needed, once more after that.) Trust me Hell be relieved, and youll be off the hook. And if that doesnt do the trick, wean your way down from monthly meetups to quarterly to yearly. 2. The Networker Who Wont Leave You AloneYou agreed to meet with a recent grad from your college last fall. And she was great- asking relevant, researched questions about your field, inquiring about your career path, and thanking you for your time. You left the coffee date on good terms and told her youd keep an eye out for any positions you think would be a good fit. However, she decided the best way to keep in touch was to email weekly to ask broad career questions, see which of your LinkedIn contacts would be best for her to reach out to, and inquire about any upcoming openings in your department. Burn That BridgeIts time for a little tough love. Obviously this person thinks highly of you and is trying to impress you with her go-getter-ness. It would be endearing, if it wasnt so annoying. So, do her a favor and offer a little professional networking advice. Tell her this isnt the best way to keep in touch, and youd hate for her to- get ready for it- burn any bridges. While she may be embarrassed, shell ultimately appreciate the advice. And hopefully, leave you alone. 3. The Colleagues You Only Talked to Because You Had ToWhile there are plenty of people in your office you trust and respect- there are others you only speak t o because you need to. Such is life when youre an adult. Maybe its the company publicist whos the only one on the team who can book event space, or perhaps its the tech consultant who you email when the site crashes at 3 AM. Regardless of who it is, its someone you inevitably end up developing a relationship with. Someone who feels comfortable enough to friend you on Facebook. And someone youre obligated to invite to your party because the rest of the teams coming, too. Before you know it, this person you dont love (to say the least) is a part of your social life. Burn That BridgeWhile you shouldnt immediately flgel this person on Facebook the second you quit, you can take him off your list of people youre obligated to be friends with. That means you dont have to invite him to your birthday festivities, your housewarming party, or a casual drinks get-together. While you shouldnt go out of your way to be exclusive, youre allowed to remove him from your mental friends listserv. While you should never go out of your way to end professional relationships, it is OK to let some fall to the wayside. Assuming youre a smart and ambitious hard worker, youre most likely racking up a number of great connections as you climb that career ladder. So, losing a few people along the way wont destroy your chances of moving onward and upward.And if you think Im wrong, let me know on Twitter. Photo of matches courtesy of Shutterstock.