Please, Delete That Mass Holiday Email: A Strategic Guide to Authentic Networking

It is December 15. If you are working in Europe, you can feel the energy shifting. The “Silent Night” of the business world is approaching—most offices will effectively shut down by December 21.

Right now, you might be staring at a draft email. It probably starts with “Dear Valued Customer” or “Hi everyone,” and you are planning to send it to all 500 contacts in your list.

Please, do not hit send.

I say this not to add to your holiday stress, but to protect your reputation. During my many years working between Europe and Asia, I have learned that in the age of AI, where anyone can generate a generic greeting in seconds, mass communication is not neutral. It is often negative.

A generic email signals to your most valuable contacts that they are just a data point in your system. It is efficient, yes. But efficiency is not the goal of networking—trust is.

Here is a more effective way to handle the next five days. It does not require a complex new system, just a shift in mindset: Depth over width.

The Context: Why “Fake” is Fatal (Especially in Germany)

Let’s take the country I live in, Germany, as an example.

If you do business here, you know that authenticity is not just a preference; it is a professional obligation. German business culture places a high value on Sachlichkeit (objectivity) and distinct reliability.

When you send a superficial “blast” message here, it is rarely seen as a nice gesture. Instead, it can be interpreted as calculated and insincere. It suggests you are “collecting contacts” rather than building relationships.

So, if we delete the mass email, what do we do instead?

The 3 Levels of Connection: A Strategic Framework

We stop trying to treat everyone the same. Instead of reaching 500 people poorly, I want you to reach 10-20 people powerfully.

Level 1: The Anchors (Your Top 5-10)

These are your long-term clients, key partners, or mentors who truly impacted your year.

The Action: Do not email. If there is time, send a handwritten note. If that feels too formal or slow, simply pick up the phone. A personal call or a sincere voice message on WhatsApp/LinkedIn is far more valuable than a newsletter.

The Content: Be specific. Do not just say “Thanks for the partnership.” Reference a specific challenge you overcame together in May, or a conversation that changed your perspective in October.

The “Why”: Deep relationships survive market disruptions. They deserve more than a template.

Level 2: The Developing Connections (New in 2025)

These are people you met this year—perhaps at a conference or through an introduction—where the trust is still forming.

The Action: A warm, professional email. Personalization is mandatory here.

The Content: Reference one specific detail from your last interaction. “I was thinking about our discussion regarding X…” prove that you were listening.

The “Why”: In a world of noise, being the person who actually listens is your competitive edge.

Level 3: The Wide Network (Everyone Else)

This is the hard part for many professionals: Do nothing.

The Action: If you cannot personalize the message, do not send it.

The Strategy: Wait. While everyone else is filling inboxes in December, wait until mid-January. Reach out then with a “New Year, New Focus” message when the noise has settled.

The “Why”: You respect their time and their inbox. That is a form of generosity, too.

A Note on the “Invisible” Partners

If you want to practice authentic connection, remember this: Relationships often flow through the people we forget to thank.

Who booked your travel? Who served the meals at your client dinners? Who manages your biggest client’s calendar?

This week, please remember to send a note of thanks to the assistants, the hospitality partners, and the support teams. Recognizing their contribution when no one else does creates a deep, lasting impression of your character.

Quality Over Noise

You do not need to be the loudest voice in the room to have the strongest network.

Use these final days of the year to be generous, but not naive. Focus on the few relationships that truly matter, and let the rest wait.

Your Next Step: Do you feel like your network is full of contacts but low on real connections?

Let’s change that in 2026.

Book a Discovery Call with me, and we can look at your relationship strategy together.