#176: Stop Networking

How to Be a Decent Human Being to Friends (and Friends of Friends) This is a conversation about a book that's not like any networking book you have read (or ignored) before. In fact, it's not about networking; it's about how networks actually work. Networking seems to many of us to be an insincere way to manipulate relationships for personal gain. And yet there is a significant body of research that demonstrates that making and strengthening connections to others is vitally important for professional success. Being connected to a strong network provides major advantages — shots at key career opportunities, access to diverse skills and perspectives, the ability to learn private information, and the type of expertise and influence that makes it easier to attain power. What if the advice we've all heard about networking was wrong? What if it ISN'T about introducing yourself to strangers at cocktail parties, handing out business cards, or signing up for the latest online tool, but by getting the full picture of the existing network that's already around you? David Burkus returns to Engaging Leader to talk to Jesse about tips from his latest book, Friend of a Friend: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career. Based upon entertaining case studies and scientific research, this practical and revelatory guide shares what leads to true success. (Hint: It looks a lot less like collecting business cards and making random introductions … and a lot more like fostering authentic connections and seeking out diverse new voices.) David is a best-selling author, a sought after speaker, and an associate professor of leadership and innovation at Oral Roberts University. He's delivered keynotes to the leaders of Fortune 500 companies and the future leaders of the United States Naval Academy. His TED talk has been viewed over 1.8 million times, and he is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review.