The Networking Survival Guide

Networking is very foremost in whatever we do. Whether you want to get sales leads, find a new job, have new friends, heighten your vocation or get referrals, networking is one of your success tools. Diane Darling, the author of this text entitled "The Networking Survival Guide" is the founder and chief administrative officer of efficient Networking, Inc., a Boston-based company that educates people on how to network.

Darling says this text is here to help you build your networking skills, gain confidence in your networking abilities and make good things happen in your business, vocation and life. Darling stresses that Whether you are planning a vocation change, raising funds for a new company venture, adding to your client base, or naturally expanding your company and personal contacts, you will learn how to make networking your most direct path to success.

Cartoon Network

She assures that this text provides answers to all your questions and guides you step-by-step straight through each phase of the networking process. This author adds that the text also helps you find the style and arrival that is right for you. Darling submits that you will also learn in the text, how to set your networking goals; form a strategic plan to reach your goals; recognize and develop potential contacts; result up on leads and turn them into opportunities; make good things happen to your career; and come to be a reserved supply for fellow networkers.

The text is divided into 18 chapters. Chapter one constitutes the introduction. Here, this author says networking is the art of building and sustaining mutually-beneficial relationships. According to her, from your first conversation in the morning until your last conversation at night, you are networking.

According to Darling, many people do not realise they are networking when that is exactly what they are doing. If you have lunch with someone a few times a year to stay in touch, that is networking, she says.

The author educates that you need other people in your life and they need you too. "It is unrealistic and impractical to do everything by yourself. You need others to help you get things done, both in company and personally... When you know the right someone to get a task accomplished, and he or she returns your phone call, you save time, money, energy," she expatiates.

This author explains that some of the reasons why people network are company improvement or sales; raising company capital; getting a job, assistance with vocation management, or a job transition, etc.

According to Darling, this book is written from the company perspective, rather than the group or personal. She says most of the examples will involve company professionals seeking to improve their network. Darling adds that these law can also be applied to those who are seeking to network for any of the other reasons.

"For example, you want to start a company and need working capital. You want to network to people who can help you. Or if you are job hunting, you want to improve your network to learn about associates and where you can make a contribution. If you are raising funds for a music camp, you want to find out who the alumni are and/or who loves music and would want to make a donation," educates the author.

Chapter two is based on the branch matter of what networking is and what it is not. Here, Darling says creating a new network in an unfamiliar society can be taxing. According to her, networking is sometimes confused with schmoozing. She explains that schmoozing has the connotation that you are getting something from someone with no advantage to the other person. Griffiths says it is a take situation. Going back to the dictionary, there are some definitions of schmoozing and it is about conversation, educates the author.

In his words, "There is also a definition, 'to gain an advantage or make a group connection'. That's how most people feel when someone is schmoozing them. It's also why many of us don't like to go to networking events. We don't want to be part of that group. Those people often come over as group climbers."
In chapters three to nine, Darling discusses concepts such as getting started to generate a plan; preparation for networking; networking accessories; body language, voice and words; conversations; places to network and best practices.

Chapter ten is based on the thematic focus of best practices when it is face to face. Here, this author says from walking in the door to walking out, this Chapter provides step-by-step guide to successfully navigate a networking event. According to Darling, wear something that makes you feel safe bet and will make it easier for someone to report you.

"Men can wear a tie with a nice design, and women can wear a suit in a colour other than navy, brown, or black. Before you head to an event, conference, or meeting, you need to pack your Networking Survival Kit. The purpose is to have everything you need for networking in one place," guides this author.

In chapters 11 to 17, Darling analytically X-rays concepts such as follow-up techniques; best practices when not face to face; how to assert and grow your network; ethics; what to do if you do not feel like networking; gender, race, culture and other networking factors; and evil network.

Chapter 18, the last Chapter of this text, constitutes the summary of the text. This Chapter contains reserved supply guide; notes; bibliography and index.

As regards style, this text is outstanding. The language is simple. In terms of presentation, the text is didactic, reflecting a goods of high level of research.

Darling makes abundant use of graphical embellishment to visually reinforce the insight of readers. This author also includes a summary section in every Chapter to perform recapitulation and heighten readers' understanding. He uses classical/literary allusions for conceptual amplification and to broaden readers' mind.

However, in terms of positioning, Chapter 12 should have come to Chapter 11 for proximity of dissimilarity with Chapter ten or to perform immediate conceptual counterbalance.

Generally, this text is must-read for all those who want to heighten their business, career, etc. straight through efficient networking. It is intellectually illuminating.

The Networking Survival Guide