Networking Smart: How to Build Relationships for Personal and Organizational Success

by Wayne E. Baker

A major secret to getting ahead in business today lies in the art of developing, maintaining, and using people networks. Indeed, it's no exaggeration to say that the ability to build strong personal relationships and effectively manage networks of people can both make your career and enable you to assure the success of your organization. And yet, says networking expert and trainer Wayne Baker, far too many otherwise savvy businesspeople fail to recognize, much less take advantage of, ALL the networking opportunities that are open to them. If you're looking to broaden, sharpen, and enhance your networking and relationship-building skills, this book will provide you with the sophisticated information and practical techniques you need to create powerful networks both inside and outside of your own company.
Avoiding the kind of bland, familiar advice found in traditional guides to networking - many of them written more than a decade ago and geared to a different set of business realities - Networking Smart offers provocative and imaginative strategies you won't find anywhere else.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

Wayne Baker is Robert P. Thome Professor of Business Administration and Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan. He currently serves as Faculty Associate at the Institute for Social Research and Faculty Director of the Center for Positive Organizations. Baker is a frequent guest speaker, management consultant, and advisor and board member of Give and Take, Inc., developers of the Givitas collaborative technology platform. He has published numerous scholarly papers, four books, and articles appearing in Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive magazine, and MIT Sloan Management Review. He earned his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and was a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University. He resides with his wife, son, and Birman cat in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Reviews

[Guy Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book, I was writing my ROI of Social Media book. This was perfect to structure some of the concepts in my book. Thanks Wayne.

[Fahim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. I recommend this book for everybody, specially those who are majoring in business. This book talks about different ways people can build relationships. Starting from individual networking to socialization with big groups of people. This book also teaches you how to manage your personal and professional life, and how to benefit from the presence and acquaintance of other people in your day to day relationship.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sufficiently info-dense

[Elizabeth]

As seen in FYI: For Your Improvement.