Networking for People Who Hate Networking

A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected

Devora Zack

• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781523098552
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Corruption & Misconduct
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Would you rather get a root canal than face a group of strangers? Does the phrase "working a room" make you want to retreat to yours? Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and successful consultant who gives presentations to thousands of people at dozens of events annually, feels your pain. She found that other networking books assume that to succeed, you have to act like an extrovert. Not at all. There is another way. Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the "dusty old rules" of standard networking advice. She shows how the very traits that make many people hate networking can be harnessed to forge an approach more effective and user-friendly than traditional techniques. This edition adds new material on applying networking principles in personal situations, handling interview questions, following up—what do you do with all those business cards?—and more. Networking enables you to accomplish the goals that are most important to you. But you can't adopt a style that goes against who you are—and you don't have to. As Zack writes, "You do not succeed by denying your natural temperament; you succeed by working with your strengths."

index

3-P Strategies

ask questions, 68, 162

pace yourself, 69, 71. See also pacing.

percolate, 66–68. See also percolating.

prep, 65. See also prepping.

A

acknowledging event staff, 78

action bingo, 137–138

adult beverages at networking events, 79

arguments during job search interviews, 114

arm-folding exercise, 54–56

arriving early for networking events, 76

“as if” reframing, 130–132

asking questions, 68, 162

attire for networking events, 76

authenticity, 62–63

author of this book, qualifications, 8–9

B

baby boomers, generational variances, 58–59

bartending, 93

being approachable at networking events, 77

being chill, 168

being gracious at networking events, 78

birthdays, introverts vs. extroverts, 159

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, 104

books and publications

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, 104

The Great Good Place, 166

Managing for People Who Hate Managing, xii–xiii

Singletasking, xiii

brainstorming events, 135–136

business cards, generational variances, 58

business travel. See also networking in daily life.

“as if” reframing, 130–132

ending conversations, 123

pacing yourself, 128–130

percolating, 124

prepping for, 120–124

saying no, 128–130

sparking conversations, 122–123, 124–128

C

calibration, 142

catastrophic thinking, 38

cell phones vs. phones, generational variances, 59

centering yourself at networking events, 76

centroverts

definition, 16

identifying, 22–24

integrating with introverts and extroverts, 136

a perfect day, 91

cheat sheet for identifying introverts vs. extroverts, 174

Cheers (TV sitcom), 166

Chinese character for crisis, 172

clear preferences, 16

cognitive dissonance, 141–144

communities for networkers

asking personal questions, 162

attending structured programs, 163–164

background, 165

being chill, 168

being reliable, 168–169

classes, 164

clubs, 164

cutting slack, 169

differentiating, 161

events, 164

exploring your su...