Ultimately, the purpose of networking is:

* To gather information about a particular industry, business or career position in which you are interested

* To broaden your professional network beyond the people you know to the people that they know

* To build relationships that bring you pleasure

Your Success will depend on your interpersonal skills. Build your network by making a list of everyone you need to know or know better internally and those within your industry. Trace old colleagues who could toot your horn to others.

How you approach your network contact depends upon how well you know the person. If you know them, come right out and say you are investigating professional opportunities in a particular industry. Tell the person that you’d appreciate the opportunity to get together over coffee for an information session and perhaps to seek advice. If the person suggests breakfast or lunch, all the better. But start small so you don’t give the impression you are going to monopolize their time.

Before your meeting, find out something about the person’s recent achievements such as a promotion or an important new client. If you can’t speak specifically about the person, know something positive about the company he/she works for. Above all, treat the person as your guest. When you assume host behavior, you will naturally project greater confidence and warmth.

After a few minutes of small talk, start with your “30-second commercial” about yourself. Relate your area of expertise and what would make you valuable to another company. Be brief, direct and to the point. If you are uncomfortable talking about your strengths, try third-party testimonials from your customers, your colleagues or your boss. For example, “My employer has said that I have made a valuable contribution in ….” or “My staff tells me that they appreciate my ability to coach and develop them for higher positions.”

Remember to follow up your meeting with a Thank You note. If in the course of your discussion you learn something about the person – she is an avid golfer or he collects art – be on the lookout for interesting articles to forward them occasionally. Or, if you read something related to their job or industry, send that along. This is an excellent way to refresh their memory about you.

And lastly, return the favor. Book time to make a difference to others. Give the gift of mentorship. The old adage of “what goes around comes around” has never been more apparent than in these competitive times.

Your online profile is a terrific opportunity to present your unique brand to the corporate world. You will find many tips on how to create an excellent brand for yourself in my blog posts, on the site, or in my books.

Keep the private and the corporate worlds apart: Your business network – such as LinkedIn – can work very well for you if you post relevant business related information. Pictures from your last party, your children’s drawings, and pet stories belong to Facebook and Twitter.

Do you know what turns up if your name is googled? You may find yourself surprised how much information Google digs up about you, or how minimal your presence may be.

Keep your image consistent and relevant. If your image is inconsistent through various sites or posts, you are sending conflicting branding messages about yourself.

The internet is a great and highly valuable tool for very effective networking. Do take advantage of the opportunities through online networking. Partner with those who can benefit from your connections and reach out to those who are in transition.

Would you like to connect with me? Please do so at http://www.linkedin.com/in/rozusheroff.

As I discuss in my book, “Taking the Leap: Managing your career in turbulent times and beyond,” communicating well always works, no matter the age of the person on the receiving end. If you are genuinely interested in understanding and working well with your colleagues and you communicate that, you are half way there.

Be sure to invest time in establishing commonality with the other generations.

The generation you were born into may always define you in some ways, but it never has to limit you; respecting that about yourself and others will brand you as “generation-proof.”

Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), Generation Xers (born 1965-1980) and Millennials (born after 1980) come to the workplace with different experiences, skills, priorities, and expectations. Critically, that means often what motivates one generation couldn’t be more different than what motivates another.

Your success – whether as a leader, a team member or a consultant – is directly linked to your ability to motivate others. Although it’s impossible to draw neat boundaries along generational lines and unproductive to over generalize, we are each, in part, a product of our time. Use this generational knowledge, along with your instincts and your specific knowledge of those you work with, to better understand, relate to and motivate them.

Baby Boomers are often motivated by outward signs of success, such as titles, status within the organization and perks. For them, long hours and heavy travel schedules have always been accepted as part of the territory as long as they are helping them get up the next rung on the ladder. They are also motivated by a sense of purpose; and they are natural team players. For Baby Boomers, it’s about feeling appreciated and not feeling over the hill.

On the other hand, Generation Xers typically value work/life balance and freedom. Titles and perks mean little to them, unless they result in money in their pockets and lead to more flexibility. Create choices for Generation Xers, and give them immediate and meaningful rewards for their expertise and contributions.

And then there are the Millennials, who expect praise and promotions but are also looking for a lot of feedback, mentoring, training and a connection to a higher purpose through their work. Millenials enjoy and often prefer working in virtual teams rather than in person. They also don’t favor long hours, preferring to use technology to save time and finish their work in time for happy hour with their friends. Many would rather take advantage of E-learning opportunities than attend live seminars. Create an environment with structure, specific expecations and goals, along with a clear path to success for Millennials. Furthermore, they may respond well to your help to see the “higher good” in the work they do.

For all generations, smart leaders recognize the importance of a positive work environment which encourages fun. It helps every generation manage in good times and bad.

Ensure your dress meets the code of the course you are playing. If you are unsure of the code, call the club you will be playing at. If you show up in unsuitable dress, you may be denied play.

If you are the host of your golfing group, you will want to arrive early to pay the bill at the Pro Shop before the game. It’s a good idea to arrange to meet at the putting green so early arrivals can practice putting. Let the pro know who is cart-partnering with whom, so that the carts can get prepared properly. Check the cart for towels, drinks, and extra score cards. Ensure your guests’ valuables are stored in lockers. And lastly, review the rules of the course with your guests. Your group is ready to get started!

As a guest, it’s important to be a good sport: don’t lie about your score. Don’t pretend to be a hot-shot golfer. Don’t practice your swing while someone is teeing off. Don’t comment on another player’s bad shot. Your cell phone should be turned off, unless you must receive an urgent call. If so, advise your golfing partners before you begin playing, and respond to your call discretely. Remember to play with courtesy and common sense so the game can be enjoyed by all.

At the end of the game, shake hands with your fellow players and thank them for their company. Thank your caddy and provide a tip, unless your host has taken care of this for the group. If so, thank your host for the courtesy. If you joined by invitation, follow up with a thank-you note to express your appreciation for your host’s time and generosity.

With that, I wish you a happy golfing season!

- Vocal power wins: Project your voice to demonstrate authority, confidence and approachability.

- Always stand up when you speak. Your voice will be clearer and louder.

- Using hand gestures for voice projection and smiling for approachability will make your voice sound more welcoming.

- Have an agenda and ensure it includes opening “thank you” statements for the attending parties, and appreciation for those who helped setting up the meeting.

- Find the proper setting: a quiet room with no distractions is ideal. Video conferencing image quality has the same rules as television appearances: avoid patterns with plaids, large prints, herringbones and wide stripes.

Would you like to learn more? Click here to read more.

• Defining Your Brand
• Building a Virtual Brand
• How to Jump Start your Career
• Risk Taking
• Business Dining Etiquette

Don’t miss out on this lively and highly informative opportunity! It’s conveniently available in Audio CD and MP3 format. Click here for more information. And remember, it’s all about Promoting Your Unique Brand!

You will be granted Gracious Host status if:

- you find out if your guests have food preferences, allergies, or restrictions.

- plan optional activities and leave lots of room for spontaneity, redirects, or guest input.

- focus on your guests, not your projects. You may think of your visitor as a much needed extra set of hands for work around the home, but they may not quite see it your way.

You may gain Marvelous Guest kudos if:

- you bring a small carefully chosen gift for the hosts

- offer a hand with the tasks

- get to know and go out of your way to respect the house rules and your hosts’ preferred routines

- take the time to follow up with a hand-written Thank You note

Enjoy your summer!

Electronic communication isn’t always a nightmare, but is often frustrating. A few months ago, I wanted to get in touch with a colleague in another city. I tried calling several times, and got voice mail. His greeting never changed, and I thought maybe he was away on business or on vacation.

E-mails didn’t work either. Finally, I called one early morning and he picked up. “I’ve been trying to reach you for a couple of weeks,” I said, barely able to hide my frustration. “I know,” he said sheepishly, “and I apologize. I get about a hundred e-mail and voice mail messages every day, and I can’t get to them all. I wouldn’t have time to do anything else!”

Wow. What can you say to that? When it comes to communication, technology has given us a blessing and a curse. ‘Instant’ electronic communications can improve our productivity, but only to the point where we become swamped and unable to respond. That’s the communication gap – that widening period of time between the electronic message and our ability to respond.

This incident made me really think. Do we have to be frustrated with communicating these days, or could we do it better? And how do we manage our ‘personal brand’ in an age of electronic communications?

THE ANATOMY OF A COMMUNICATION

In the 1990s the service industry developed a quality theory known as ‘moments of truth’. It says that every contact with a customer, from the first telephone inquiry to an estimate to the service experience and even the invoice afterwards, was a ‘moment of truth’ that could be handled well, or handled poorly. The outcomes determined whether a company would ultimately keep or lose that customer.

This interesting concept can be extended to include colleagues as well as customers. You may not risk ‘losing’ a colleague or an associate as you could a customer, but you can certainly lose their attention and your credibility through careless communication. Are we communicating within our own comfort zone, without thinking about the preferences of the other person? Are we communicating in ways that damage our personal images and reputations?

Which brings me back to my experience with my colleague. What could I have done?

Well, I could have done sooner what I ultimately did – pick a strategic time of day to call. Or I could have been very specific in my e-mail and voice mail messages, making a response more obvious and easy. I could have ‘zeroed out’ of voice mail and spoken with an administrative assistant to book a telephone appointment.

Now that I know his predicament, I could simply ask him, “What’s the best way to get hold of you? What do you like best?”

If I do any or all of these things, I gain two benefits. First, I get a faster response. Second, I make a favorable impression that will probably be reciprocated.

Clothing is the outward expression of the inner person. It’s important to dress in a way that sends the right message but also looks effortless and natural.

It’s better to be overdressed than under.

Don’t be a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. Plan and lay out what you’re going to wear several days before the interview, so you’ll have time to shop or get garments pressed and cleaned. The darker and more solid the color, the more elegant and authoritative. With the possible exception of creative fields like advertising or computer programming, it’s best to stick with navy, black or grey.

For women, you have a choice between a pantsuit or a skirted suit. Again, do your homework. For example, when Accenture recruits on college campuses, the firm recommends skirted suits for the first two rounds of interviews, with pantsuits acceptable for the third round. Take your cue from your research into the company and its culture. You might go wrong wearing a casual pantsuit, but it’s almost impossible to go wrong wearing a skirted suit. You can wear matching or coordinating top and bottom. Make sure your skirt length is not too short so as to be distracting to the interviewer. The cardinal rule is that it’s all about your fit with the company.

Accessorize with colorful scarves to add your unique signature. Carry a simple handbag, and keep it in the same color family as your shoes or complimentary to your clothing. Also, if you are carrying a briefcase, choose a smaller purse. Avoid noisy and oversized jewellery; opt for a more refined look and make sure your shoes are in perfect condition. No scraped heels or scuffed leather.

Men, coordinate your shoes and socks with your suit. Socks should match either the shoes or suit color, and be certain that your shoes are freshly shined. The belt and the shoes should be the same color, and the socks should be executive-length so you don’t expose hairy legs if you happen to like sitting with your legs crossed. You might want to check out to see that your soles of your shoes are in perfect condition if you intend to sit in this fashion. If you carry a briefcase, it should also be clean and well-kept. And please, no tie clips, pocket protectors, suspenders worn with a belt (!) or thick rubber soles with a power suit.

Wear your tie as your signature.

It should be silk, and elegantly knotted, like a full or half-Windsor or a four in hand. Choose the type of tie depending on your audience. Stripes and repetitive small patterns typically are appreciated by the more conservative interviewers. Wear bold abstract patterns when you are meeting with creative people and bring out the power tie (red or yellow with strong repetitive patterns) for negotiating your salary. The tie should not extend below your belt. And please, refrain from wearing short-sleeved t-shirts or singlets under your shirts if they are of a thin weave. You don’t want the interviewer to think, h-m-m-m-m, fearless executive by day, longshoreman by night.

The close you choose for that all important interview are critical in generating that positive first impression.