.

.

Networking is the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business

• Networking: The cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business. Merriam Webster
• Networking: Interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. Oxford Dictionary
• Mentorship,  Communication,  Advice,  Connectedness,  Collaboration,  Cooperation,  Teamwork

.

Networking is about who you know and what you know about them

• It’s not what you know but who you know that makes the difference.
• It isn’t just what you know, and it isn’t just who you know. It’s actually who you know, who knows you, and what you do for a living. Bob Burg
• It isn’t what you know or even who you know. It’s what you know about who you know.

.

.

Networking is essential for success

• Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one. Jane Howard
• Your personal success is tied to your ability to build a network of people who you can look to for help and advice. Jerry Bruckner
• Networking is an essential part of building wealth. Armstrong Williams
• The richest people in the world look for and build networks. Everyone else looks for work.  Ronert Kiyosaki
• Sometimes, idealistic people are put off the whole business of networking as something tainted by flattery and the pursuit of selfish advantage. But virtue in obscurity is rewarded only in Heaven. To succeed in this world, you have to be known to people. Sonia Sotomayor
• Rolodex power. Your power is almost directly proportional to the thickness of your Rolodex, and the time you spend maintaining it. Put bluntly the most potent people I’ve known have been the best networkers — they “know everybody from everywhere” and have just been out to lunch with most of them. One reason (among many) that women may well take over the world of “virtual enterprises” is that they seem to have a greater instinct for networking. And the unfettered- by- machismo males who have taken to networking will do better than those who shun it as “sissy stuff.” But truth is, it has always been the age of “networkers”; and in an era where organizations depend more and more on tenuously connected outsiders to get the job done, it will only become so. Tom Peters
• Success

.

.

Effective networking is about marketing yourself

• Networking is marketing. Marketing yourself, marketing your uniqueness, marketing what you stand for. Christine Comaford- Lynch

.

Effective networking is about cultivating relationships …

• Relationships take time, getting to know folks requires patience, and people are generally cautious – if not fearful – of Johnny come lately that is asking, rather than giving. Jeremiah Owyang
• Build solid relationships. Don’t expect overnight miracles from networking. It takes time for people to develop confidence in you and you need to invest in those relationships. Try connecting with them on a level other than business – as humans, we always bond through shared interests, no matter what they are. You don’t need to be BFFs – but you should seem three- dimensional. Perhaps there are other events you could attend together? Josephine Fairley
• Treat people like friends. Would you go to a friend, interrupt his/her conversation, hand over a business card, talk about yourself and then walk away? Of course not. Treat new networking relationships as you’d treat your friendships. Build rapport and trust that business will happen. Darrah Brustein
• Relationship building takes time and cannot be rushed or forced. Stephen E. Seckler
• Networking is rubbish; have friends instead. Steve Winwood
• Networking is not about hunting. It is about farming.  It’s about cultivating relationships.  Don’t engage in “premature solicition.”  You’ll be a better networker if you remember that.  Dr Ivan Misner

.

… especially through helping others

• Try to provide as much value as you possibly can. The more value you create, the more it will come back to you many times over. Focus all of your networking efforts on helping the people you contact. James Clear
• Always think what you can do to help those around you achieve what they are striving for.
• You will rise by lifting others. Robert Ingersroll
• To build a network, always think of how you can help other people in your network. People like to help people who help them. Jerry Bruckner
• Network with the intention of helping other people, not yourself. People enjoy doing business with those that they trust and like. The only way to build that trust is to engage with others in a helpful way. Yes, trust takes a long time to build, but insincerity takes even longer to overcome. Once you’ve developed a relationship and created a bond, then you can move on to negotiating for favors and asking for help. James Clear
• The very best piece of advice I was given – which transformed my attitude to networking – was not to go into a roomful of strangers thinking: ‘What can I get out of this?’ But instead, to think: ‘What can I offer?’ It changes your mindset from a sort of desperation to a spirit of generosity. (And in business, that’s when the magic happens, I always believe). Josephine Fairley
• The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own. Bob Burg
• The goal of networking should be to help other people. Yes, it would be nice if they helped you out as well, but networking is a two–way street. And your side of the street is all about helping others, not asking them to help you. Asking for favors should only become a possibility once you have learned more about the person and provided some value to them. James Clear
• The currency of real netwoking is not greed but generosity. Keith Ferrazzi
• Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.  Danny Thomas
• Nothing liberates your greatness like the desire to help, the desire to serve. Marianne Williamson
• Find out ways to be helpful by asking: “What is keeping you up at night?”  Stephen E. Seckler
• Giving connects two people, the giver and the receiver, and this connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging. Deepak Chopra
• Helpfulness

.

Effective networking is about building trust

• To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to do business with you and to build a relationship with mutual trust.  George Ross
• If people like you they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you they’ll do business with you.
• Many believe effective networking is done face-to-face, building a rapport with someone by looking at them in the eye, leading to a solid connection and foundational trust. Raymond Arroyo
• Trust,  Integrity

.

Effective networking is about quality rather than quantity

• You don’t need to know the most people, just the right people. There is no need to shotgun your business cards across the industry or to pepper everyone with emails. Instead, focus on finding people that are relevant to you. It’s better to have 5 people willing to help you out than it is to have 500 that simply know your name. James Clear
• Less is more. It’s far better to meet 2 or 3 fabulous contacts who you can work with to support and enhance each other’s business, than to know a small amount about 30 people whose names you may forget very quickly.
• Quality

.

.

Develop a diverse network both inside and outside your industry

• Have a diverse network, not a large one. If you only network inside your industry or social group, it’s easy to become insular. Go to work ‘mixers’ and social events, yes, but also attend events for your chosen professional body, as well as designated networking events organised by people who specialise in putting people together. Josephine Fairley

.

Identify your current network and nurture it

• Nurture your current network. Most people think of networking as reaching out to new people, but don’t forget about the network that you already have. (Hint: You probably call them your friends and co-workers.) There is no need to wait to meet new people to start connecting others or sharing useful information. Network within the groups that are already close by. James Clear
• One of the challenges in networking is everybody thinks it’s making cold calls to strangers. Actually, it’s the people who already have strong trust relationships with you, who know you’re dedicated, smart, a team player, who can help you. Reid Hoffman

.

Be intentional in your networking

• Don’t leave networking to chance. Take some time and define what you are looking for in your network. Every once and awhile you’ll stumble across someone amazing on accident, but it’s a lot easier to find who you’re looking for if you know who they are in the first place. Be proactive and create a list of people that you want to contact on purpose. James Clear
• Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections. Stephanie Speisman
• Intention

.

Network selectively

• ‘Network selectively…’ You never know when someone might say yes’ is marketing for dummies. Take the time to build a profile of your ideal customers and target your networking activities to reach them. Speak to those who are already predisposed to want what you offer. Almost any profile is better than ‘anyone with a pulse’. Steve Pavlina

.

The best networking is done face to face

• Many believe effective networking is done face-to-face, building a rapport with someone by looking at them in the eye, leading to a solid connection and foundational trust. Raymond Arroyo

.

Participate in networking activities you enjoy

• Don’t get involved in activities that do not interest you. Doing things because you “should” will not work. If you don’t like golf, don’t play golf. Stephen E. Seckler
• Do what you love

.

Change your mindset from ‘What can I get out of this?’ to ‘What can I offer?’

• The very best piece of advice I was given – which transformed my attitude to networking – was not to go into a roomful of strangers thinking: ‘What can I get out of this?’ But instead, to think: ‘What can I offer?’ It changes your mindset from a sort of desperation to a spirit of generosity. (And in business, that’s when the magic happens, I always believe). Josephine Fairley
• Contribution

.

Take business cards with you wherever you go

• Take your business cards. This is so basic. This is the ‘Janet & John book’ of networking: as fundamental as it gets. And yet, how often do I meet people at events who fumble in their dog-eared purse and eventually mumble, ‘Oh, I don’t seem to have one with me.’ Josephine Fairley

.

Have a great handshake

• Be the one with the memorably great handshake. Do people judge, instantly, from a handshake? Oh yes, every time. Firm. Dry. And with a steady gaze right in the eye. Bingo. I literally remember people by their handshake years later – and I’m not alone. Josephine Fairley

.

Have a clear understanding of what you do and what makes you different …

• Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others. Stephanie Speisman

.

… and be able to articulate this in 90 seconds or less

• Have your ‘elevator’ pitch ready. Have a short, concise version you can share about what you do and where you work, who your clients are (if you have any) and what your goals are. If possible, give a sense not only of what you do but who you are. This is the story you’d like to write for your life. Practice it, if necessary. No smart networker loves a rambler. Give yourself 90 seconds max.  Josephine Fairley

.

Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you

• Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in conversations ask, “How may I help you?” and no immediate answer comes to mind. Stephanie Speisman
• Be specific. The more specific you can be about what you do and what others can do to help you (if they ask), the better. Darrah Brustein

.

Ask questions …

• Ask great questions. The only way to get to know someone else is to ask them genuine and thoughtful questions. It’s always best to walk away from a conversation having allowed the other person to speak more than you did. Not only will they feel great about the conversation, but you’ll have gotten to know a lot about him/her, helping you plan and execute your follow-up more thoughtfully. Darrah Brustein
• Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them. Stephen E. Seckler
• To start conversation, always have several Focus Questions that you know off by heart that will open up conversation and more importantly direct the conversation towards your area of expertise and intention for the event. Siobhan Harmer
• Making conversation

.

… and listen actively

• Be engaged. Keep eye contact with your conversation partner. Nod your head and tilt your body towards them when you’re speaking. These small cues go a long way towards making them feel like you care, which helps you to build rapport and trust: the foundation on which you can later do business. Darrah Brustein
• Become a great listener. If you want to succeed at building business relationships, try listening 80 percent of the time. Active listening is a great way to gain trust. It is the best way to find out how you can be helpful to potential clients and referral sources.  Stephen E. Seckler
• The mark of a good conversationalist is not that you can talk a lot. The mark is that you can get others to talk a lot. Thus, good schmoozer’s are good listeners, not good talkers. Guy Kawasaki
• Networking is more about listening to what people say than saying the right things. Take the time to listen to people’s stories. You can only provide something of value to them if you listen to who they are and what they do. James Clear
• Use “what’s your story” as an ice-breaker – and give other people time to share theirs. (Everyone has one.) All the time, be asking yourself: ‘What can I offer this person?’ Perhaps you can put them in touch with someone who’d be useful – appreciate that might not always be you.  Josephine Fairley
• Listening

.

Be genuinely interested in others

• You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. Dale Carnegie

.

Make people feel special

• The most successful networkers (think of those you’ve met) are good at making other people feel special. Look people in the eye, repeat their name, listen to what they have to say, and suggest topics that are easy to discuss. Be a conversationalist, not a talker. Colleen Debaise

.

Smile a lot

• It’s a simple – but often overlooked – rule of engagement. By smiling, you’ll put your nervous self at ease, and you’ll also come across as warm and inviting to others. Colleen Debaise
• Smiling

.

Be yourself

• Be yourself. Networking events are meant as jumping-off points for relationship building. If you can’t be yourself, you’ll be starting off these new relationships with a lie. Don’t try to be the person you think others want to meet. Be genuine. The people you connect with when you are authentic are the ones you’ll want to stay in touch with. Darrah Brustein
• Be who you are

.

Share your passion

• Share your passion. Win people over with your enthusiasm for your product or service. Leave a lasting impression by telling a story about why you were inspired to create your company. Talking about what you enjoy is often contagious, too. When you get other people to share their passion, it creates a memorable two-way conversation. Colleen Debaise
• Passion,  Enthusiasm

.

Don’t take “no” personally

• Don’t take “No,” personally. Everyone is busy. For most people, it’s simply a matter of timing. If you catch them on a good day, then they will happily talk or meet with you. If they’re swamped, however, then a simple “No” might be all that you get. Don’t take it to heart. In most cases, it’s not a reflection of you or what you said. James Clear
• Rejection

.

Keep a record of your contacts and what you know about them

• Take notes. When you ask for someone’s card after having a great conversation, take notes on their business card after they walk away or immediately after the event. This will help you to be more specific in your follow-up. Darrah Brustein
• Stay Organized. Keep a record of your networking. Whether you do this in a notebook or in a database file on your computer, it’s important to keep track of your contacts including notes of conversations you’ve had with them.
• Next day, log your contacts. I’d estimate that at least half the people who exchange business cards never look at them again. That’s probably a vast underestimate. Pre-schedule 30 minutes in your diary the morning after a networking event to follow up on contacts and add people to your address book, recording as much detail as possible.  Josephine Fairley

.

Make sure to follow up – and do it quickly …

• Follow up quickly. If you meet someone at a networking function and decide you want to get together with them, call or e-mail them within 24 hours to set something up. Quick follow-up increases the chance that you will actually do it. It also increases the chances that the contact will remember you.  Stephen E. Seckler
• Get in the habit of following up on small things right away. Timely thank-you notes are much more meaningful than cards that arrive three months after the fact. Stephen E. Seckler
• Use the 80/20 rule for following up. If you were to measure the amount of time most people spend on networking activities aimed at meeting new people vs. the amount of time they spend following up with the people they already know, you’d be shocked at how imbalanced it is. People spend too much time trying to meet new people and too little time following up with and nurturing relationships with people they already know. In fact, your efforts should be the other way around: use the 80/20 rule to further and develop relationships with your existing network. Siobhan Harmer
• Less than 5% of people follow up after a networking event. Following up by sending them a card or giving them a call to meet up again is a sure way to stand out from all the other people they met that day. Angelique Milojevic

.

… by methods other than just e-mail

• Email is easy to send … and ignore. Yes, email is quick, simple, and can be sent to anyone, anywhere. It’s also very easy to be filtered out and ignored. If you really want to meet someone, then don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, propose a video chat, or arrange a face-to-face meeting. These communication channels are usually less crowded and more personal, which means that your message will be more memorable. Email can be a great tool, but don’t be afraid to mix it up. James Clear

.

Stay in contact

• When reading articles, read with intention (Is there anyone I can forward this to? Is there anything in this article I can discuss with my clients or contacts?) Stephen E. Seckler

.

Find ways to help your contacts …

• Try to provide as much value as you possibly can. The more value you create, the more it will come back to you many times over. Focus all of your networking efforts on helping the people you contact. James Clear
• To build a network, always think of how you can help other people in your network. People like to help people who help them. Jerry Bruckner
• Network with the intention of helping other people, not yourself. People enjoy doing business with those that they trust and like. The only way to build that trust is to engage with others in a helpful way. Yes, trust takes a long time to build, but insincerity takes even longer to overcome. Once you’ve developed a relationship and created a bond, then you can move on to negotiating for favors and asking for help. James Clear
• The successful networkers I know, the ones receiving tons of referrals and feeling truly happy about themselves, continually put the other person’s needs ahead of their own. Bob Burg
• The goal of networking should be to help other people. Yes, it would be nice if they helped you out as well, but networking is a two–way street. And your side of the street is all about helping others, not asking them to help you. Asking for favors should only become a possibility once you have learned more about the person and provided some value to them. James Clear
• Find out ways to be helpful by asking: “What is keeping you up at night?”  Stephen E. Seckler

.

… or introduce your contacts to people who can help them

• Develop the habit of introducing people. Connecting like-minded people is a powerful to enhance your network. James Clear
• Introduce your contacts to someone who can solve a problem they have. Perhaps they need a good computer consultant to help set up an office network or a good plumber. Referring good vendors to your contacts shows that you are resourceful.  Stephen E. Seckler

.

Become known as a powerful resource for others

• Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.  Stephanie Speisman
• Introduce your contacts to someone who can solve a problem they have. Perhaps they need a good computer consultant to help set up an office network or a good plumber. Referring good vendors to your contacts shows that you are resourceful.  Stephen E. Seckler

.

Resist the temptation to keep score

• My Golden Rule of Networking is simple: Don’t keep score. Harvey Mackay
• Networking with integrity creates a greater willingness of all parties to be part of a human conduit to serve as energy and resource to one another. Sometimes you will give more than you receive and sometimes you will get back more than you give. It’s not about keeping score. Chris London

.

Treat your contacts as you’d like to be treated

• What Goes Around Comes Around. If you want to be treated with respect, treat others with respect. If you want your phone calls and email missives returned, call and write back to the people who contact you. If you want big-wigs to make time for you, make yourself available to others whom you might be able to help out. It’s that simple.  Sonia Sotomayor
• Respect for people is the cornerstone of communication and networking. Susan Roane
• The golden rule

.

Make use of social networks like Linked in, Twitter and Facebook

• Create a website that expresses something about who you are that won’t fit into the template available to you on a social networking site. Jaron Lanier
• I think exploring the Internet’s – and the Web’s – ability to facilitate personal linkages is remarkable; and expect to see additional social networking applications and services emerge. Vint Cerf
• Instead of telling the world what you’re eating for breakfast, you can use social networking to do something that’s meaningful. Edward Norton
• Remember to follow up. Networking is where the conversation begins, not ends. If you’ve had a great exchange, ask your conversation partner the best way to stay in touch. Some people like email or phone; others prefer social networks like LinkedIn. Get in touch within 48 hours of the event to show you’re interested and available, and reference something you discussed, so your contact remembers you.  Colleen Debaise
• Social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr provide an unparalleled ability for people to stay connected in new and unique ways. Michael Bennet
• While social media skills were once a ‘nice-to-have,’ accreditation in the space is becoming a requirement for many of these job titles. Hiring managers and job seekers are realizing that printing stacks of resumes is turning passe, and social media is rising as the new way of generating real-time networking opportunities. Ryan Holmes
• Wikis and social networking are just tools. Jimmy Wales

.

.

Networking can help you find a job

• Pick up the phone and schedule a networking meeting. Make a lunch date with someone who might be able to give you some advice about openings in your field. Think broadly here. Reach out. Your next job is probably not going to come from one that is being advertised right now. Kerry Hannon
• Start reaching out to the people in your professional network. Let them know you are searching for a new job and see if they have any leads. By keeping people informed as to what you are up to and what you are looking for, you never know what doors may open. Also, look into attending networking events to connect with new people. Who knows, the next person you meet may be the person to help you find the right job for you. Ashley Jacobs
• Stay connected through networking. The vast majority of job openings are never advertised; they’re filled by word of mouth. That’s why networking is the best way to find a job. Unfortunately, many job seekers are hesitant to take advantage of networking because they’re afraid of being seen as pushy, annoying, or self-serving. But networking isn’t about using other people or aggressively promoting yourself—it’s about building relationships. As you look for a new job, these relationships can provide much-needed feedback, advice, and support. Robert Segal.
• Pick up the phone and schedule a networking meeting. Make a lunch date with someone who might be able to give you some advice about openings in your field. Think broadly here. Reach out. Your next job is probably not going to come from one that is being advertised right now. Kerry Hannon
• Losing your job

.

.