.
 
 
 
Business Networking - June 2004
 
 
 
Newsletter Index
Editor's Letter
In the News
Contact Us
DeskDemon Home
Send to Friend
Subscribe to ON!
Features
How to network
Networks to join
How to thrive in cyberspace
PA's perspective
Confidence booster
Setting up a network
Reasons to network
Your secretarial associations
Giveaways
Competition!
In the News
Network with DeskDemon!
"Duplicitous, deceitful" PA is jailed
New face at IQPS
Is your company a top employer?
Mind your manners!
Winners all the way!
Event Calendar
Exhibiting Show
Diary Dates
Fun Quiz
Who's schmoozing who?
How do your rate your networking skills? Try our 5-minute quiz to see whether or not you're a natty networker!
Click for more...
The Archives!
Missed something? Take a look at our Archives
SEND TO FRIEND
Friend's Email:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Message:


Who's schmoozing who?
In an ideal world, people get jobs, pay rises and promotions purely because they deserve them. Back in the real world, however, we all know that moving up the career ladder depends a lot on who you know.

Which is why good networking skills are so important. But how good are yours?

Business journalist Roisin Woolnough challenges you to discover whether you're the kind of person who knows how to win friends and influence people…


1. There’s a works "do" this Friday evening and lots of important people will be there – but you’ve already arranged to meet a friend for their birthday drink. What do you do?
a)
 Friday night is your favourite night of the week and you can think of nothing better than hitting the town with your mate for birthday drinks. Miss that for some boring work drinks, you’ve got to be joking!
b)
Go to the works do for a couple of hours, long enough to make an impression, and then meet up with your friend.
c)
Blow your mate out – well, your career is important – and have a list of everyone you are going to meet at this do

2. Joe from marketing rings up and asks you to do him a favour. It would take a couple of phone calls to find out the information he wants, what do you do?
a)
 It’s outside your job description and will take at least 20 minutes of your time, so you tell him you’re too busy.
b)
You agree to help – after all, you know there’s a vacancy coming up in his department that you would like and if he could put in a word for you…..
c)
You do it, but let him and everyone else know that you’re doing him a favour. There’s no point helping people unless you get to shout about it.

3. You’re on a company "away-day" and your best work buddies suggest skiving off the afternoon’s activities in favour of the pub. What do you do?
a)
 Say it’s a great idea - you don’t think your bosses will mind
b)
You suggest a couple of drinks at the end of the day instead, as you don’t want to create the wrong impression.
c)
Shout: "No way, I’ve got more important things to do!" as you charge off in the opposite direction in pursuit of Susie – she’s an important person and now is your chance to meet her.

4. It’s coming to the end of your first week in a new job and your colleagues are heading for the pub - but they haven’t expressly invited you. What do you do?
a)
 Slope out the door and hope nobody notices. You’re not ready for socialising with them yet anyway.
b)
Ask Karen who sits opposite you if you can join everyone for a drink.
c)
Announce in a loud voice that the first round is on you and you hope there won’t be any shirkers.

5. It’s first thing on a Monday morning, you feel groggy and have a mound of work to do. Your boss invites you to attend an important meeting in five minutes – it’s not compulsory but it will show other attendees that your boss values your contribution. Do you go?
a)
 You say you’re far too busy to drop what you’re doing and wouldn’t have much to offer anyway.
b)
You thank your boss for inviting you and ask if there’s anything you could quickly do to prepare
c)
You bounce into the meeting and start talking immediately about how important your contribution is.

6. You have been asked to give a presentation at a conference. There will be 50 other delegates, including some company bigwigs and you’ve never spoken at such a high profile event before. Do you agree to do it?
a)
 No way. You hate public speaking and mouthy Mark could just as easily do it instead.
b)
You say you’d be delighted but would value any advice from your boss and colleagues.
c)
Punch your fist in the air and ask if you’ll be getting a pay rise because of the extra responsibility.

7. You’ve gone to an exhibition specifically to meet a particular person, but the event is almost over when you realise they’re about to leave in a cab. What do you do?
a)
 Sigh and hope you get to meet them next time.
b)
Make sure you get their contact details from their colleague who you’ve met once before and follow up with an email the next day, explaining who you are and that you would like to meet for lunch.
c)
Hotfoot it to the other side of the room and grab their arm to stop them from leaving. You haven’t made all this effort for nothing.

Results:
Mostly a)
 It’s all very well being laidback, but you're almost horizontal. Pull your finger out and put more effort into meeting people and creating the right impression. If you want people to think you’re serious about your career, you need to show you’re serious about it too! Dust off your contact cards and ask for new challenges. You never know, you might even enjoy it.
Mostly b)
You know how to strike a good balance between being ambitious and proactive but without being overbearing. Keep up the good work and you will soon be running the company. Your boss likes you, your colleagues like you – it’s plain sailing to the top.
Mostly c)
You may think you’re impressive, but the reality is that you’re too dominating. Colleagues can hardly hear themselves think you’re so busy telling them how wonderful you are. Tone it down a bit and take advantage of the reflexology sessions at work, and you might find people stop running in the other direction as soon as they hear your booming voice.

Roisin Woolnough is a freelance journalist specialising in employment and business issues. She regularly writes for The Guardian, Personnel Today, Computer Weekly and other leading business titles.

BACK TO NEWSLETTER INDEX

Disclaimer:
You've received this email because you subscribed to DeskDemon's ON! E-zine for Office Professionals. To Unsubscribe click here. You will then be sent an email to the address provided by you. Please open this email and confirm removal by clicking the link in the Email. Your Email will then be immediately unsubscribed from our Email list, and we apologize for any inconvenience. For other enquires about the DeskDemon newsletter, email us at newsletter@deskdemon.com.