Networking Dos and Don’ts

This morning, I had an email chat with a friend of mine about a Networking Agenda.  It sounded so simple, yet so complex.  It’s not something you want to memorize, but it’s something that could be a great reminder.  Here’s a list of Dos and Don’ts, and is by no means, an all-inclusive list:

• Do mention your name, and what you do
• Do mention where your passion, or interests are
• Do cultivate people who can be helpful
• Do associate with others that have a common interest
• Do attend social gatherings
• Do network with your Bosses, Coworkers, Customers, Shop Floor
• Do develop a “brand” for marketing yourself, your product, or your service
• Do “offer” advice
• Do be yourself
• Do be curious, and ask questions of others
• Do give of yourself expecting nothing in return
• Do be a professional
• Do “fake it ’til you make it”
• Do be creative when helping others
• Do volunteer
• Do reach out to a mentor
• Do use a way to organize your efforts, such as spreadsheets, paper, word docs, etc
• Do remember to thank everyone who has been helpful
• Do stay involved with your network

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• Don’t schmooze
• Don’t appear to be “working the room”
• Don’t just consider networking to be a simple business card exchange
• Don’t be rude, boring, or uninteresting
• Don’t be pushy
• Don’t sell anything
• Don’t lie, or over embellish
• Don’t go anywhere without your business card
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

As I said before, this is not an all-inclusive list, but we would love to hear what else you think should be added?  Thanks!