Support
Network
Map

COMMUNICATION & RELATIONSHIPS TOOLS

Map who you can count on, identify where your network is thin,
and take one step toward closing the gap.

Where This Tool Helps

Leaders tend to underestimate how much they are carrying alone. Not because they lack relationships, but because high-performers often develop a habit of managing down and managing up while quietly letting lateral and peer support atrophy. The result is a network that looks functional on an org chart but does not actually provide the kind of support that matters when things get hard.

This tool surfaces a specific gap: the difference between knowing many people and having people who genuinely know you. A broad outer network is valuable. An underdeveloped inner circle - where the real-time, high-stakes conversations happen - is a vulnerability.

Most people who complete this map find one of two things: either their inner circle is smaller than they realized, or it is skewed heavily toward personal relationships with almost no professional peers in it. Both patterns have consequences for how well-supported a leader is when navigating a genuine challenge at work.

The mapping works best when you resist the urge to include people out of obligation. The question for each circle is not "who should be in here" - it is "who actually shows up."

How to Use This Map

  1. Start with the inner circle. Name the 1-5 people you would call first in a genuine crisis - professional or personal. If the list is shorter than you expected, that is the first signal this tool is doing its job.
  2. Fill in the middle and outer circles. Middle circle: regular, consistent connection. Outer circle: extended community, professional network, periodic contact. Names can be specific people or categories (e.g., "peer CEO group," "college friends").
  3. Work through the gap questions honestly. The gaps are where the value is. A network that looks full often has one type of support completely missing - usually practical support or professional peer support.
  4. Commit to one action. The action step should be specific enough to complete in the next two weeks - a call, a coffee meeting, attending an event.
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Your Support Network

Inner Circle

1-5 people - those you turn to first in a real crisis

Middle Circle

5-15 people - regular, consistent support

Outer Circle

Extended network - periodic contact, broader community

Types of Support in Your Network

For each type, note who provides it (or leave blank if missing):

Emotional Support
Listens, empathizes, stays with you in difficulty
Practical Support
Helps with tasks, logistics, problem-solving
Professional Support
Mentors, peers, advisors in your field
Challenge Support
Pushes back, asks hard questions, holds you accountable
Social Support
Companionship, shared activities, levity
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Gap Analysis & Action Step

Gap Analysis

Which type of support is strongest in your network?

Which type is weakest or missing entirely?

Is anyone in your inner circle also a professional peer - someone who understands the specific pressures of your role?

Who in your outer circle could move closer with more intentional connection?

One Action Step

Based on what you can see in your map:

I will

With / for:

By (date):

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Tandem Coaching Partners

Credentialed coaches with real-world leadership experience,
partnering with executives and organizations
to unlock sustainable growth.

Consultation

tandemcoach.co/
contact-us

Email

info@tandemcoach.co

Phone

855 51 COACH

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