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February 08, 2007
Networking Basics
As a law student seeking out the perfect job, and later as an attorney looking to expand your professional and personal experiences and client base, networking is a key element for success. The OCS Library has a great book on networking "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi. We will summarize portions of this book in this post and subseqent posts.
Ferrazi has an M.B.A. from Harvard, and former Chief Marketing Officer for Deloitte. Ferrazzi describes his book as "The Ultimate Networker Reveals how to Build a Lifelong Community of Colleagues, Contracts, Friends, and Mentors."
Networking Basics
•Be Generous: Key to networking is generosity. Networking should be viewed as connecting with others. The more people you help, the more help you'll have and the more hep you'll have helping others.
•Don't keep score: Networking is not quid pro quo. Real networking is based on recognition of mutual need. You give to others freely, and do not keep tally of how much equity you have in a relationship. Give freely, and more often than not, you will take freely.
•Be open to asking for help, advice, connections from others. Do not be shy. The biggest hurdle to effective networking is this feeling of not wanting to take a free bee from someone. Get over it.
Posted by hafeezt at February 8, 2007 02:10 PM