On March 26, 2012, for this episode of Bookends Book Club, Susan Stamm interviewed Michael Dulworth, author of The Connect Effect. Before forming Executive Networks in 2007, Mike was the CEO of Executive Development Associates, Inc. Prior to that, Mike was a Vice President of Learning Services at The Concours Group, the Founder and CEO of Learning Technologies Group, Inc., and has worked for The Conference Board, Sirota & Alper Associates and the U.S. Congress. Mike is the author, coauthor or a contributor to seven books on executive development, learning, and high-performance organizations.
Networking is not mere socializing—it is a vital personal and professional development skill. An effective network can make you more knowledgeable, help you address critical issues, accelerate your career, and even improve your health and well-being. As a recent article in MIT’s Sloan Management Review reports, “What really distinguishes high performers from the rest of the pack is their ability to maintain and leverage their networks.” Networking is simply too important to be left to chance.
In this book, Michael Dulworth shows how to take a conscious, systematic approach to networking. After a short quiz to measure your “networking quotient” (NQ), The Connect Effect identifies three distinct kinds of networks: personal, professional, and virtual. Dulworth examines their specific characteristics and offers strategies, tools, and resources for building up and making the best use of each one. Stories from Dulworth’s twenty years of experience running networks, as well as interviews with top executives, researchers, and thought leaders, provide insights and advice about how networks function in the real world.
Few of us are born networkers, but anyone—introvert, extrovert, or in-between—can learn to master this important skill. And as you build your networks and the connections between members multiply, you’ll find that the benefits you gain grow exponentially. This extraordinary return on your networking investment is what Dulworth terms “The Connect Effect”—and in this book he shows how it can enrich every aspect of your life.
Don’t forget to check out the Free Stuff pages (see the banner above) to locate resources related to this and other podcasts. Michael has made an NQ finder available for you. After the interview, you’ll better understand the power and meaning of “NQ.” This along with other resources are free downloadable documents related to the book and the interview provided by the authors and Bookends Book Club.
The TEAM Approach, sponsors of Bookends Book Club, is committed to helping individuals and organizations improve their effectiveness. Working with leaders as well as developing teams that work collaboratively. You may investigate the information, products and services provided by The TEAM Approach by visiting our web site. Contact us for more details on how we can help your organization.
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