Networking Pet Peeves

Do you hound your connections, name drop without permission, or network indiscriminately online? Then you’re guilty of at least one of the 11 Common Network Mistakes that Bruce Byfield outlined in the IT Manager’s Journal and which VOIP-News reprinted. The other eight mistakes include:

• Badmouthing other companies and individuals
• Exaggerating connections
• Begging for a job
• Spamming requests
• Passive participation at networking Web sites
• Failing to keep up relationships
• Being disrespectful of other people’s time
• Treating networking as one-sided

The list is a great summary of why networking often gets a bad rap. We all slip sometimes, and get lazy and forget our manners, but if you’re consistently making more than one of these mistakes, you’re just not getting the whole concept. Please stop networking right away to avoid giving the rest of us a bad name.

I’m kidding. I’ve rehabilitated many a poor networker, so I know there is hope for just about everyone. What these mistakes have in common is a lack of respect. Trying to get help from others by putting your needs first. Hmm. What’s wrong with that picture?

Always imagine yourself on the other side of the networking situation and ask how you would respond to these types of actions. If it won’t sit well when you’re on the receiving end, then think of something else to do that will.

Any other networking pet peeves you’d like to add to the list?

Comments

[Tracey Segarra]

When people pretend to want to get to know you. I once had someone lure me out to breakfast, ostensibly to get to know me better. He then spent the entire breakfast talking about himself and did not ask me one question about myself.

It quickly became obvious that he was trying to sell his services to my company and had no interest in me at all. Heck, he didn't even go through the motions.

I've since had other people ask me about this person, and I've frankly told them that I don't think much of him at all.

So he killed his chance to make a connection with me, someone who really enjoys meeting new people and helping them, and he has no idea that his actions have resulted in me giving him less than stellar references to people I'm sure he'd want to impress.