Following are four major groups of external supports to manage transitions (Schlossberg, 1998). Examine examples of the types of people who are representative of the network.

Networking Group Representatives

personal relationships
• immediate family
• extended family
• close friends, neighbors and acquaintances
• service professionals
• helping professionals
• social groups

professional relationships
• organizational colleagues
• colleagues in other organizations
• customers, clients, and collaborators
• vendors, consultants, contractors
• union representatives

organizational and community affiliations
• professional associations
• alumni associations – national and local chapters
• community or volunteer organizations
• philanthropic cultural and civic organizations
• certifying or licensing bodies
• boards of directors, boards of trustees and advisory boards

opportunistic networks
• the woman you met at the party
• the man working out next to you in the gym
• the couple behind you in the movie line
• your hairdresser, hygienist, or mail delivery person
• the other person who got bumped off the flight to JFK