Networlding: Building Relationships and Opportunities for Success

Declaring that in today's workplace, simple networking is no longer enough, Giovagnoli and Carter-Miller present a prescriptive plan combining career advancement with social reform. In contrast to the traditional aim of networking for one's own financial gain or prestige, they espouse ""networlding,"" in which advancement may be a motive but there's a difference in intent. Networlding involves focusing on a larger issue, such as increasing diversity in the workplace or offering assistance for a social program. Among the specific rules of networlding offered by Giovagnoli, a human resource specialist, and Carter-Miller, an executive at Motorola: ""Grow and nurture your relationships,"" ""Expand your connections"" and ""Make both your redundant and divergent connections count."" The last rule is easy to overlook: the authors cite someone looking for a job who got a lead after talking to a parent at a Little League game. Even more important than following these rules is having a clear sense of one's values. The authors present a straightforward approach for identifying and prioritizing values, creating a personal charter and setting goals for the coming year. While readers who haven't consciously networked during their career may find this approach difficult to follow, those who have will benefit from this concise and innovative primer. (Aug.)