Strategic Connections : The New Face of Networking in a Collaborative World

Smartphones, social media, and the Internet can only get a professional so far. At some point, the success of an organization will depend on face-to-face relationships, which means the isolated employees trying to do everything virtually will at some point have to fall back on the tried-and-true, essential skill of relationship building if they are going to survive in today's increasingly collaborative workforce.Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new Network-Oriented Workforce, Strategic Connections provides practical advice anyone can use for building better, more productive business relationships. Readers will discover how to: Commit to a positive, proactive networking mindset Earn trust Boost their social acumen and increase their likeability Master conversational skills and deepen interactions Employ storytelling to make communications memorable And much moreBusinesses don't have to look very far to find employees with a strong presence in the different social networks. If you want to stand out and make yourself invaluable to your organization, focus on making your presence known in the company's physical networks. Today's organizations are collaborative. With old command-and-control methods replaced by openness and transparency, networking has become an essential professional skill--expected of everyone, at every level. Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new network-oriented workplace, Strategic Connections provides practical advice for building better, more productive business relationships. Readers will discover how to: * Commit to a positive, proactive networking mindset * Align networking activities with individual and organizational objectives * Leverage their contacts by organizing them into strategic groups * Earn trust--a prerequisite for collaboration * Boost their social acumen and increase their likeability * Master conversational skills and deepen interactions * Employ storytelling to make communications memorable * Use networking to deliver value to the company Thanks to technology, new contacts are only a click away. But the level of connection and collaboration required for real success demands advanced face-to-face relationship-building skills. This book gives you the tools you need to meet goals, execute strategies, foster innovation, and make yourself invaluable to your organization. Today's organizations are collaborative. With old command-and-control methods replaced by openness and transparency, networking has become an essential professional skill - expected of everyone, at every level. Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new Network-Oriented Workforce, Strategic Connections provides practical advice for building better, more productive business relationships. Readers will discover how to: commit to a positive, proactive networking mindset; align networking activities with individual and organizational objectives; leverage their contacts by organizing them into strategic groups; earn trust - a prerequisite for collaboration; boost their social acumen and increase their likeability; master conversational skills and deepen interactions; employ storytelling to make communications memorable; and, use networking to deliver value to the company. Thanks to technology, new contacts are only a click away. But the level of connection and collaboration required for real success demands advanced face-to-face relationship-building skills. This book gives you the tools you need to meet goals, execute strategies, foster innovation, and make yourself invaluable to your organization Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new Network-Oriented Workforce, Strategic Connections provides practical advice anyone can use for building better, more productive business relationships. Smartphones, social media, and the Internet can only get a professional so far. At some point, the success of an organization will depend on face-to-face relationships, which means the isolated employees trying to do everything virtually will at some point have to fall back on the tried-and-true, essential skill of relationship building if they are going to survive in today's increasingly collaborative workforce. You will discover how to: Commit to a positive, proactive networking mindset Earn trust Boost their social acumen and increase their likeability Master conversational skills and deepen interactions Employ storytelling to make communications memorable Businesses don't have to look very far to find employees with a strong presence in the different social networks. If you want to stand out and make yourself invaluable to your organization, focus on making your presence known in the company's physical networks. Today's organizations are collaborative. With old command-and-control methods replaced by openness and transparency, networking has become an essential professional skill, expected of everyone, at every level. Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new network-oriented workforce, this resource provides practical advice for building better, more productive business relationships. Readers will discover how to: commit to a positive, proactive networking mindset; align networking activities with individual and organizational objectives; leverage their contacts by organizing them into strategic groups; earn trust-a prerequisite for collaboration; boost their social acumen and increase their likeability; master conversational skills and deepen interactions; employ storytelling to make communications memorable; and use networking to deliver value to the company. -- Edited summary from book Preface: the compelling case for face to face Introduction: the eight must-have skills for strategic connections Commit to a new networker identity Take a strategic approach Envision your ideal network Develop trusting relationships Increase your social acumen Deepen interactions Communicate expertise Create new value How to develop and support your network-oriented workplace. "In this book, you'll discover how to gain a deeper understanding of the knowledge and influence of each person you interact with -- and create authentic and productive professional relationships."--Jacket. New contacts may be only a click away, but new customers are made face-to-face.