Written by: Vickie Sullivan  |  June 18, 2026

When Someone in Your Network Needs Help: What Meaningful Support Looks Like

For those who follow me, you know that my 2026 priority is to bring and extend more grace in my life. This blog post about how to respond to personal requests on LinkedIn not only gave me specifics for how to do that, but it also identified what meaningful support really looks like.

First off, these types of posts hurt my heart. In an environment where everyone is trying to “be cool,” getting real and raw on a professional platform is a brave act. These are desperate times.

And how do some of us respond? With a pep talk or unsolicited advice. Sure, that’s well-meaning, but it’s not what the person really needs. That type of giving is cheap and easy for us to offer, but it lacks real value.

Instead, let’s extend ourselves. Let’s open the door with inside information about opportunities. Share specifics, not just insights. Open our hearts and networks a little wider. We don’t have to advocate or refer someone if we don’t know them well, just pass along solid information.

Disruptions like AI create heavy job-loss casualties. People whose jobs were cut are not incompetent or failures. They are collateral damage. This post is a good reminder that we’re all one big disruption away from losing everything.

Now Read This:

• Forget Resolutions—Try Acts of Kindness Instead
• Outsmart Your Competition. Attract More Opportunities.