Everybody, networking will benefit the company and employees and it can be used at all levels. Executive officers should focus on understanding how they, and the company’s employees, can benefit from the use of the network. People can achieve extraordinary results when they team up with other people and engage in active networking. The skills in networking will also add value to the management of social capital within an organization. It should be managed and funnelled through the organization not only by the CEO, but also by functions like “VP of Business Development,” “Director of Human Resources,” “Chief Information Officer,” and “Business Relationship Manager.”

As evolving companies begin to better manage their social capital and understand the value of tapping into the networks of their employees, changes will take place. Major considerations when hiring will be based upon whom the prospective hires know. Networking skills will become a new “must-have” for getting the best jobs, as computer skills have been it for many years.

The Guy Kawasaki Theory of Schmoozing version 1.0 was ad hoc: get to know the people that you need for a specific deal. It was short-term and focused.Version 2.0 is ad infinitum–maybe even ad nauseam. It’s taken me twenty years, but I’ve figured out that it’s much easier to make a sale, build partnerships, create joint ventures–you name it–with people that you already know than with people you just met. Read the 9 steps to becoming a great schmoozer at How To Change the World

It takes time, effort and patience. The payoff will accelerate the achievements of your goals. A network can help remove the natural barriers between strangers, and give the members a possibility to interact more freely. People trust other people, not large anonymous organizations. One person’s word to another can influence more actions, get more things done, and make more sales than a massive advertising campaign.

Viral marketing is the perfect spin-off on the fact that “people trust other people”.

Sorry, back to networking again, it’s hard work, so stop reading this blog, and write an e-mail to an old friend/colleague/family member, update your Linkedin profile, write a recommendation for someone who matters, call a friend, set a new well defined goal, make lunch plans for Tuesday etc. You gotta reach out.

The acclaimed queen of networking Jill Lublin who phrased the sentence “It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you”, has put together some amazingly simple tips on how to work your next networking function, take a look at the article, called The Anatomy of Networking Events.