Professional Networking For Dummies

Donna Fisher

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780764553462
• eBook ISBN: 9781118069547
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Careers

Are you putting your best foot forward in meetings? Are you connecting with the right people at functions? Throughout your life, you will find yourself in situations where professional networking will help you get to where you want to go. Whatever your strengths or weaknesses are, you can always improve your networking skills, and Professional Networking For Dummies can show you how.

Whether you feel ineffective at connecting with others or just want to become a better networker than you are today, Professional Networking For Dummies can help you develop great people skills.

Professional Networking For Dummies explores the essential techniques of networking to get you meeting and greeting in no time. It will help you get into the networking mindset and avoid such self-defeating traps as expecting immediate returns or turning off new potential colleagues. You'll also discover how to overcome inhibitions, make small talk, and meet new contacts. Plus, you 'll find special information on networking tools and technology, such as networking clubs, using voice and e-mail, Internet networking, and more.

Through these pages you'll find out how to:

• Maximize your relationships
• Expand your circle of influence through networking events
• Network in the corporate world, your community, and in your personal life
• Develop lifelong career-building habits
• Build and maintain your network

Networking is a universal principle of giving and receiving—a lifestyle rather than a technique. Professional Networking for Dummies can help you build lasting, powerful relationships, both in and out of the office. From using business cards properly to networking your way into a new job, this friendly guide is your tick to personal and professional success.

Part I

Networking: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and What It Can Do for You

In this part . . .

**IN a DROPCAP**

This part identifies the basic philosophy of networking. I show you how to shift your attitude and awareness to generate more networking opportunities. You find out what your core network is and who is involved. There’s also information about how networking, selling, and marketing are all related — and yet different.

Chapter 1

Networking Defined

In This Chapter

Understanding what networking is

Knowing the keys to effective networking

Finding out about the benefits of networking

C an you recall the last time someone told you about a good movie? Or maybe a friend suggested a great vacation spot, a wonderful book, or a fabulous new restaurant? What about the time someone told you about a great place to purchase a computer, a car, some furniture, or clothes? Every time someone gives you a recommendation, suggestion, or idea about something that’s of interest or value to you, that’s networking. And every time you do the same for someone else, that’s networking. Networking is the passing along of information from one person to another for the purpose of being of value and service.

Networking involves creating opportunities through meeting people, making contacts, and building strong relationships. These relationships grow and deepen over time, leading to other contacts, relationships, and opportunities. As human beings, we have a natural need to be in relationships with others. Honoring that natural desire to connect with and develop camaraderie with others is up to each of us. That need for connection can be fulfilled through networking.

By fostering the power of cooperation, networking links people to one another for the mutual benefit of everyone involved. Those who are truly masterful at networking do it in a very quiet, yet powerful manner. These people know the power of grace and respect. They’ve developed their personal power and know how to connect with people to share their power. You have that personal power within you. Your potential network is unlimited.

What Networking Is

Networking is the passing along of information, ideas, and contacts from one person to another, and then possibly to more people. Every time someone shares an idea or contact with you, you are on the receiving end of networking. Every time you give someone support, encouragement, or a recommendation, you are on the giving end of networking.

Most of the time we don’t think of networking as networking. If I call a friend because I’ve had a tough day and need the comfort of a caring person and a familiar voice or I offer to give a friend a ride to the airport when he leaves for his two-week dream cruise to Greece, I might think of these actions as just being a part of friendship or a friendly gesture. Or if I recommend my chiropractor to all my friends simply because I am so pleased with how much better she has helped me feel, I might categorize the action as common courtesy.

Networking is as simple as friendship. It’s about people sharing and caring for one another. People become friends because they share certain things in common and connect with each other in ways that are pleasing to both people. Over time, friendships tend to grow and deepen. Friends provide support, information, and comfort and add fun to one another’s lives. Friends also typically introduce their friends to their other friends, interests, hobbies, and businesses. This type of introduction is networking operating at its most natural level.

Make a list of all the times over the last week that you have done someone a favor, given someone encouragement, provided someone with a valuable or interesting piece of information, asked for help or advice, made a recommendation to someone, or given a referral. Pat yourself on the back for already being an active networker.

What a Network Is

A network is a group of people with links to one another. These links may be due to similar job situations, career activities, friends, neighbors, hobbies, schools, communities, religious activities, and so on. A network is a support system of people that you can reach out to for help, support, advice, or friendship. A network is an intricate web of people who are related in some way and thus connected to each other directly or through the links of other people in the network.

Your network is working when there is a constant flow of information, ideas, and contacts among you and the people around you.

You’ve heard of networks of computers that are connected via cables and communication lines that allow people to access and share information. A professional network is similar; it gives people a way to connect with one another for the purpose of accessing and exchanging information.

Actions Associated with Networking

Networking involves action. In fact, you must take action for the power of your network to become manifest. Without action, your network is like a field of grain that’s been planted but is never harvested. There can be great value and worth in that field, but without the appropriate action, the good that the grain can do for others is never fulfilled.

Networking requires conscious action along with clear intention. As a way of life, networking incorporates attitude, awareness, and action. You can have a great attitude about wanting to be of service to others, but people only get served through action. You can be very aware of people and opportunities, and yet it is only when you take action to bring those people and opportunities together that results happen.

Giving and receiving information, contacts, and referrals. Networking is a two-way street of giving and receiving. You are a wealth of information, contacts, and referrals and so are the people in your network. By accepting and offering support, you enhance the flow of networking, strengthen your relationships, and give people an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of giving and receiving support. This giving and receiving of information, contacts, and referrals can be done in person, over the phone, or via mail or e-mail. However, some type of action must take place to generate the interaction and exchange of information called networking.

You are the center and source of your network. You have available to you a multitude of resources to exchange, share, and pass along to others. Being a resource means that you ...

Table of contents

• Title
• Contents
• Introduction
• Part I : Networking: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and What It Can Do for You
• Chapter 1: Networking Defined
• Chapter 2: Your Core Network
• Part II : Building and Maintaining Your Network
• Chapter 3: Expanding Your Circle of Influence through Networking Events
• Chapter 4: You Are the Source of Your Network
• Chapter 5: Let’s Talk: Networking Happens through Conversation
• Chapter 6: Cultivating Your Network by Making Requests
• Chapter 7: Listen Up!
• Chapter 8: Using Follow-Through to Maintain and Grow Your Network
• Part III : Using Your Network: Networking Opportunities
• Chapter 9: Networking Your Way to the Perfect Job
• Chapter 10: Networking in the Corporate World
• Chapter 11: Networking for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
• Chapter 12: Networking throughout Life
• Chapter 13: Networking in a Charity or in Your Community
• Part IV : Networking Challenges
• Chapter 14: Personality and Style Differences
• Chapter 15: The High-Tech Connection
• Chapter 16: Networking Etiquette
• Part V : The Part of Tens
• Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Master the Art of Small Talk
• Chapter 18: Ten Techniques for Effective Name Recall
• Chapter 19: Ten Traits of the Masterful Networker
• Chapter 20: Ten Networking Turnoffs and How to Avoid Them
• Appendix: Create Your Own Networking Action Plan