Networking for People Who Hate Networking : A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected (Paperback)--by Devora Zack [2010 Edition] ISBN: 9781605095226

Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and a successful consultant who speaks to thousands of people every year, found that most networking advice books assume that to succeed you have to become an extrovert. Or at least learn how to fake it. Not at all. There is another way. This book shatters stereotypes about people who dislike networking. They’re not shy or misanthropic. Rather, they tend to be reflective—they think before they talk. They focus intensely on a few things rather than broadly on a lot of things. And they need time alone to recharge. Because they’ve been told networking is all about small talk, big numbers and constant contact, they assume it’s not for them. But it is! Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the “dusty old rules” of standard networking advice. She shows how the very traits that ordinarily make people networking-averse can be harnessed to forge an approach that is just as effective as more traditional approaches, if not better. And she applies it to all kinds of situations, not just formal networking events. After all, as she says, life is just one big networking opportunity—a notion readers can now embrace. Shows how the networking-averse can succeed by working with the very traits that make them hate traditional networking Written by a proud introvert who is also an enthusiastic networker Includes field-tested tips and techniques for virtually any situation Are you the kind of person who would rather get a root canal than face a group of strangers? Does the phrase “working a room” make you want to retreat to yours? Does traditional networking advice seem like itâ€TMs in a foreign language? Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and a successful consultant who speaks to thousands of people every year, feels your pain. She found that most networking advice books assume that to succeed you have to become an outgoing, extraverted person. Or at least learn how to fake it. Not at all. There is another way. This book shatters stereotypes about people who dislike networking. Theyâ€TMre not shy or misanthropic. Rather, they tend to be reflective—they think before they talk. They focus intensely on a few things rather than broadly on a lot of things. And they need time alone to recharge. Because theyâ€TMve been told networking is all about small talk, big numbers and constant contact, they assume itâ€TMs not for them. But it is! Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the “dusty old rules” of standard networking advice. She shows how the very traits that ordinarily make people networking-averse can be harnessed to forge an approach that is just as effective as more traditional approaches, if not better. And she applies it to all kinds of situations, not just formal networking events. After all, as she says, life is just one big networking opportunity—a notion readers can now embrace. Networking enables you to accomplish the things that are important to you. But you canâ€TMt adopt a style that goes against who you are—and you donâ€TMt have to. “I have never met a person who did not benefit tremendously from learning how to network—on his or her own terms”, Zack writes. “You do not succeed by denying your natural temperament; you succeed by working with your strengths.” "Are you the kind of person who would rather get a root canal than face a group of strangers? Does the phrase "working a room" make you want to retreat to yours? Does traditional networking advice seem like it s in a foreign language? Devora Zack, an avowed introvert and a successful consultant who speaks to thousands of people every year, feels your pain. She found that most networking advice books assume that to succeed you have to become an outgoing, extraverted person. Or at least learn how to fake it. Not at all. There is another way. This book shatters stereotypes about people who dislike networking. They re not shy or misanthropic. Rather, they tend to be reflective they think before they talk. They focus intensely on a few things rather than broadly on a lot of things. And they need time alone to recharge. Because they ve been told networking is all about small talk, big numbers and constant contact, they assume it s not for them. But it is! Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the "dusty old rules" of standard networking advice. She shows how the very traits that ordinarily make people networking-averse can be harnessed to forge an approach that is just as effective as more traditional approaches, if not better. And she applies it to all kinds of situations, not just formal networking events. After all, as she says, life is just one big networking opportunity a notion readers can now embrace. Networking enables you to accomplish the things that are important to you. But you can t adopt a style that goes against who you are and you don t have to. "I have never met a person who did not benefit tremendously from learning how to network on his or her own terms", Zack writes. "You do not succeed by denying your natural temperament; you succeed by working with your strengths." -- from publisher's website

devora Zack, An Avowed Introvert And A Successful Consultant Who Speaks To Thousands Of People Every Year, Found That Most Networking Advice Books Assume That To Succeed You Have To Become An Extrovert. Or At Least Learn How To Fake It. Not At All. There Is Another Way.

this Book Shatters Stereotypes About People Who Dislike Networking. They’re Not Shy Or Misanthropic. Rather, They Tend To Be Reflective—they Think Before They Talk. They Focus Intensely On A Few Things Rather Than Broadly On A Lot Of Things. And They Need Time Alone To Recharge. Because They’ve Been Told Networking Is All About Small Talk, Big Numbers And Constant Contact, They Assume It’s Not For Them.

but It Is! Zack Politely Examines And Then Smashes To Tiny Fragments The “dusty Old Rules” Of Standard Networking Advice. She Shows How The Very Traits That Ordinarily Make People Networking-averse Can Be Harnessed To Forge An Approach That Is Just As Effective As More Traditional Approaches, If Not Better. And She Applies It To All Kinds Of Situations, Not Just Formal Networking Events. After All, As She Says, Life Is Just One Big Networking Opportunity—a Notion Readers Can Now Embrace.

Would you rather get a root canal than schmooze with a bunch of strangers? Does the phrase "working a room" make you want to retreat to yours? Is small talk a big problem? Devora Zack used to be just like you--in fact, she still is. But she's also a successful consultant who addresses thousands of people each year, and she didn't change her personality to do it. Quite the contrary. Zack politely examines and then smashes to tiny fragments the "dusty old rules" of standard networking advice. You don't have to become a backslapping extrovert or even learn how to fake it. Incredible as it seems, the very traits that make you hate networking can be harnessed to forge an approach even more effective than traditional techniques. It's a different kind of networking--and it works. Networking enables you to accomplish the goals that are most important to you. But you can't adopt a style that isn't true to who you are. "I have never met a person who did not benefit tremendously from learning how to network--on his or her own terms," Zack writes. "You do not succeed by denying your natural temperament; you succeed by working with your strengths." Author Devora Zack identifies herself as a bona fide, "off-the-chart" introvert. Even though she makes her living presenting to large groups, she prefers to be alone engaging in solitary pursuits. She likes serene reflection more than multidecibel excitement. Happy hours do not make her happy. Nevertheless, she is a networking expert who teaches introverts how to build connections. Her goal is to help them actually learn to love networking, but how well her techniques work for you may depend on just how deeply introverted you are. It's hard to make networking palatable to someone who regards a group of strangers with unmitigated terror as opposed to general unease. Yet, this is a good, solid book and Zack's ideas are sensible. Even if some of her suggestions may not be workable for every introvert, getAbstract believes her advice will help many people become better networkers Welcome to your field guide Assess yourself The destruction of stereotypes Why we hate to network Sparkling new rules that work Networking event survival kit Good-bye golden rule Networking without a net The job search Business travel Creating events that work for all Defining outcomes, achieving goals. Networking is the art of building and maintaining connections for shared positive outcomes. This field guide begins by politely examining, and then shattering to pieces, traditional networking truisms Provides advice on successful networking for people who do not generally like the process of networking, discussing communication strategies, networking events, and identity preservation