Savvy Networking: Grow Your Business and Your Career

Did you know that contacts are the bread of career life? In times of change, information and relationships are a source of power. Savvy networking will help you to tap into this power to grow your business and your career.

Savvy networking is a systematic process of establishing and maintaining relationships for seeking out information and resources in order to accomplish specific goals. Its focus is on the building of rapport and long term interactions rather than quick, short-term connections of 'here today gone tomorrow'. Its purpose is to access all kinds of information and a wide variety of resources in order to achieve one's individual career goals as well as one's team or work group's objectives.

Some of you may have a negative opinion of networking. Some of you may think it is a selfish or egotistical activity with an emphasis on, "What can this person do for me?" However, savvy networking is not only committed to the meeting of your goals but also must be concerned with the following:

"How can I specifically be of help to this other person or team? What is it that I can give? What kinds of information do I have access to? Or what kinds of support can I provide?"

Reciprocity is the key. It is the getting of what you need to achieve your goals or perform your job effectively as well as the giving to others what they need in order to achieve their goals or do their job more effectively.

In savvy networking, peer relationships are more important than ever given the rise of team based organizations. As the leader of these work or project teams, your challenge is that you may not have the formal authority over people whose support you need. For example, you may be tasked with accomplishing the following:

  • assembling a group of people of different backgrounds or from different areas to work together.
  • obtaining essential resources from others such as information, technical expertise or political backing.
  • coordinating efforts with other teams who have their set of priorities which may be different than yours.

    • Your ability to get the job done hinges first on your success in cultivating, mobilizing, and maintaining relationships with others. Second, it is dependent on your ability to influence or gain cooperation from these people to accomplish specific goals.

    Stephen Covey, in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, states: "Interdependence, not independence, is the new watch word." Forget being the Lone Ranger! Connect for success. Start building dynamic networks and relationships.

    Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ­ to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ­ resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ­ fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Is The Company You Keep Hurting Your Business?

    When you look at your friends, it's like looking into... Read More

    Why Bother With Social Networking Sites Like LinkedIn?

    Q: I think I understand the value of networking as... Read More

    Your Front End

    While surfing for traffic or browsing your safelist emails, you... Read More

    Which Networking Events Should You Attend?

    How does one determine which are the best events to... Read More

    Hows Your Net Working?

    In recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to pass along... Read More

    Networking - How To Do It

    Networking is probably the oldest, easiest, most effective and least... Read More

    Lesson 69 - When Networking Events Fail

    The StoryIn a quest to create strategic alliances, coalitions, and... Read More

    How to Organize a Successful Bad Sweater Party

    "Hey Scott, would you like to go to a Bad... Read More

    Network Your Way to Success, and Remember: Its Not About You!

    Quote of the week"The answer is always no...unless you ask."... Read More

    Networking Know How

    Networking, even to a seasoned professional, can seem intimidating or... Read More

    How To Make Your Next Networking Event A Success

    There are people who are natural born networkers - those... Read More

    Flying High, Flying Far

    "What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!"This was... Read More

    Unforgettable First Impressions Part 4: Become a Social Gift Giver

    Do you ever wonder why single people give flowers, wine,... Read More

    Unforgettable First Impressions Part 1: Discover the CPI

    People like others whom they are like. So if you... Read More

    Building Business Relationships in a Roomful of Strangers

    You approach a stranger at an association meeting or industry... Read More

    The Quest for Passive Income

    Passive Income, residuals, royalties three ways to get paid multiple... Read More

    Networking Know-how

    Successful networking requires the understanding from the get-go that it... Read More

    Lessons from the Wedding Mafia

    One of my clients shared a story with me from... Read More

    Power Networking: Getting Your Name Out There!

    Today's economy presents some very special challenges to people who... Read More

    Planting the Seeds of Greatness - Make it Great Newsletter #7

    Thought of the WeekThis week, I'd like to challenge you... Read More

    Jump Start Your Network

    Networking is often identified as a key business building activity... Read More

    How Speakers, Exhibitors, Consultants, and Meeting Planners Partner-Generate More Money and Value

    ? "Make Every Moment Count" is the title of a... Read More

    Networking in the Business world

    Why is it so important to network with other people... Read More

    Effective Networking

    The process of finding out about a job, getting interviewed,... Read More

    How to Turn Water into Lemonade by Giving a Flavored Answer to a Fruitless Question

    I remember the first time I opened the fridge to... Read More

    Joining Industry Specific Organizations Has Many Benefits

    Recently, while providing an up-and-coming Virtual Assistant (VA) and small... Read More

    Networking Group Loyalty Requirements

    How can you find out the group loyalty requirements before... Read More

    Are You Really Listening: The Importance of Strong Communication Skills

    Let's face it, when most people think of IT professionals,... Read More

    Building Great Business Relationships

    If you're in a business relationship with anyone ? a... Read More

    Have We Met Before? What to Do When You Cant Remember Who Yourre Talking To

    You see him from across the room. You know him,... Read More

    Networking: Strangers, Friendship, and Business Growth

    You already know that uncomfortable feeling, that knot in your... Read More

    Networking - Facts to Ponder

    Right here in Europe, the very last continent to enter... Read More

    Why Cant I Remember Your Name?

    You're terrible with names. You forget someone's name within ten... Read More