Book Summary: Networking For Professional Success

Book Summary:


This article is based on the following book:
Effective Networking for Professional Success: "How to Make the Most of Your Personal Contacts"
by Rupert Hart, Stirling Books, 1997
ISBN 0 949 142 09 3
125 pages

We are all "self-employed" now.

Today there is absolutely no job security. We are living in an age of corporate downsizing, and freelance consultants, or self-employed workers are growing by the day. Networking is one skill you need to practice to get ahead and survive these uncertain times.

Wisdom in a Nutshell:

  • Networking is essential for both new jobs and business contracts.

  • Effective networking is 12 times more effective than answering advertisements

  • Advertising is becoming ineffective except on a large scale.

  • Networking helps you find hidden opportunities and can set you apart from the competition.

  • An indirect approach is better than a direct one. Use someone you know to introduce you to your target contact. Never go straight to your target without a go-between who will put in a good word for you.

  • You can overcome your natural shyness, your fear of using people, and your fear of rejection.

    The 3 key networking techniques are:

  • Build a network of partners to keep an open eye and ear for new opportunities for You.

  • Reach targeted individuals in two ways: directly or indirectly.

  • Build visibility by raising your profile. Go to every social gathering you possibly can.

    Building your network is an ongoing process. You need to increase your range of contacts constantly.

    Planning your campaign:

  • Define your objective

  • Select the right technique

  • Understand that "deal flow" or your number of prospects must be great in order to bag one new business contract.

  • Identify your target

  • Work out your positioning. This is a short statement of what you are about, what you can offer.

  • Think about what you can do for your network partners in exchange for information and contacts.

    Building Network partners:

  • Talk to everyone you know about opportunities

  • Clarify what network partners can and will do for you

  • Know which contacts to build into network partners

  • Find those friendly network spiders, those types of people who just seem to know everyone.

  • Use the telephone.

    How to grow and refresh your network:

  • Go out of your way to be where people are.

  • Get into the habit of being talkative.

  • Get the contact details of people you meet. Not just exchanging business cards but stapling information like birthdays, anniversaries, hobby clubs, and key information onto their cards.

  • Choose the right method for the right person.

  • Warm up long-cold contacts.

    How to find targeted individuals:

  • Focus on what you want to achieve and how people can help you.

  • Use your network partners to find suitable companies.

  • Gather key information on these companies.

  • Figure out who is the one with the power to hire you.

  • Find people connections and common areas of interest.

    Reaching targets through network partners:

  • Find and persuade the best partner for your targeted individual.

  • Engineer an introduction.

  • Build word-of-mouth exchanges about yourself.

    Reaching targets directly:

  • Decide if you should write a letter or not.

  • Be able to demonstrate your achievements.

  • Have a line ready to get you past the secretary.

  • Act as though you expect to be put through.

  • Be ready to leave a short, persuasive message for the decision-maker.

    Your opening line:

  • Be cheerful, confident and straightforward.

  • Exploit connections and recommendations.

  • Mention common interests.

  • Report news of interest to the target.

  • Wait for a response. Know when to shut up.

  • Write down your opening lines before picking up the phone.

    How to be visible without really trying:

  • Ask a question at a conference.

  • Make a point in a meeting.

  • Write letters to your industry magazine.

  • Introduce yourself to lots of people at an industry show or ball.

  • Buy people a drink at the bar at a lecture.

  • Discuss a book with an industry leader.

  • Wear bright ties.

  • Make people laugh.

  • Have an opinion on everything. (But keep an open mind)

  • Hand out an unusual business card.

  • Recast your CV to be a little different.

  • Take up an unusual hobby. (But not too unusual)

  • Don't overlook using the email and Internet to communicate your cause.

    About The Author

    By: Regine P. Azurin and Yvette Pantilla

    http://www.bizsum.com/freearticle2.htm

    "A Lot Of Great Books....Too Little Time To Read"

    Free Book Summaries Of Latest Bestsellers for Busy Executives and Entrepreneurs

    Mailto:freearticle@bizsum.com

    BusinessSummaries is a BusinessSummaries.com service.

    (c) Copyright 2001-2002, BusinessSummaries.com - Wisdom In A Nutshell

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    The Red Hourglass: Lives of the Predators, by Gordon Grice

    The black widow spider is notorious for eating her mate... Read More

    Unspoken Dreams - Book Review

    "Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is... Read More

    Product Review: Affiliate Mistakes Special Report

    In his ebook "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck McCullough teaches... Read More

    Atlanta Pastor Releases Book Of Life

    Local Atlanta Pastor known for his charity work such as... Read More

    Business Plans

    Way back in business school we had to churn out... Read More

    Book Review: Money Without Matrimony

    MONEY WITHOUT MATRIMONY: The Unmarried Couples Guide to Financial Security,... Read More

    Bury My Heart at Redtree

    Title: Bury My Heart at Redtree Author: Patrick Chalfant Genre:... Read More

    Review: How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as little as 7 Days

    How To Write and Publish Your Own eBook in as... Read More

    Never Fry Bacon in the Nude - AchieveMax® Top Ten Book Review

    Never Fry Bacon in the Nude (And Other Lessons from... Read More

    Dragon Tales - Book Review

    Dragon Tales by Mary C. Fairbanks is truly and entertaining... Read More

    What $ells on EBay For What - Book Review

    You look at the salesletter and the price tag ($8.95... Read More

    Story Structure - Three Heroes

    Three Heroes Story Structure follows the Hero's Journey mould but... Read More

    The Seventh Jewel - Book Review

    The Seventh Jewel is a fantasy-adventure fiction geared for youth... Read More

    My Dad Wears Polka-dotted Socks! - Review

    "Bright colored sheets just inside the sturdy book cover certainly... Read More

    Book Summary: Networking For Professional Success

    Book Summary:This article is based on the following book: ... Read More

    King Bartholomew and the Jesters Riddle - Review

    King Bartholomew and the Jester's Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is... Read More

    For Fans of Seinfeld-like Coincidences

    Isn't That Bigamy (c) 2005, ISBN 1411634241, Mike Vogel, Lulu... Read More

    E-books in Your Life

    E-Books are making a big impact in the way we... Read More

    Book Summary: How To Work With Just About Anyone

    "I just can't seem to get along with this person!"Every... Read More

    The Legend of Juggin Joe - Review

    The Legend of Juggin' Joe is a fiction based on... Read More

    ARTURO EL REY - Book Review

    This large (about 378 pages), fantasy-adventure novel should give best... Read More

    Moon Child - Review

    Moon Child by Simone Maroney is a larger sized adventure,... Read More

    Free Ebook Offer: The Story of America: Discovery

    Did Columbus first discover America?Did the Vikings first discover America?Did... Read More

    Sorat and the Modern Day Evil

    "Sorat's evil will be spread by his infernal army of... Read More

    The Road of Silk: Book Review

    "The Road of Silk is an adventure fantasy, with mystical... Read More

    Book Review for The Margaret Ellen, A Karen Cobia Mystery by RC Burdick

    I've discovered a new favorite author, and his name is... Read More

    Gilleland Poetry: A Book Review

    For me, poetry is often too obtuse and difficult for... Read More

    Book Summary: First, Break All The Rules

    Based on a mammoth research study conducted by the Gallup... Read More

    The Global Wolf Pack

    Description:Intense action and gripping suspense characterize the seemingly real story... Read More

    Book Review: What Color Is Your Parachute?

    What Color is Your Parachute? Reviewed by: Matt Keegan ©... Read More

    Erasure and the Othering of Texts

    Percival Everett's Erasure takes a look at how racism affects... Read More

    The Cranberry Bog - Book Review

    "Scott Underhill takes readers on a stimulating, emotional ride in... Read More

    Atlantis Rises Book

    Chapter one: Baby on the doorstep.It was one of those... Read More