Letting an alliance lapse
Maintain close ties to your colleagues, letting none of them lapse. Pick up your former close relationship where it left off. Strengthen this approach with an immediate offer of support for one of your contact’s current concerns. Don't overuse an alliance by asking for a favor too often, so the quality of your connection will erode. The more valuable an alliance, the less often you should use it. After getting a favor, return a favor in a big way or do some high-level stroking to keep the alliance running strong. Check if there is a foundation like history of cooperation, favors made earlier. Continually add a foundation to your relationships.