New York Times

Donna Fisher Quoted in New York Times article: "Networking and Social Graces Aren't Incompatible" by Sana Siwolop

Excerpt from the article:
"Pressed for time and worried about the skittish economy, many people have been networking at a frenzied pace, networking consultants say, whether to find a job, drum up business, become appointed to a corporate board or professional organization or even break into a particular social circle.

But there is a right and a wrong way to network. To help people learn networking etiquette, a growing number of courses and seminars are being offered across the country, and many of the organizers say that they have been filling up as fast as they are offered.

‘I've seen a lot of people networking like robots lately,’ says Donna Fisher, a corporate trainer based in Houston and co-author of ‘Power Networking’ and ‘Professional Networking for Dummies.’

Networking consultants say many people simply to not realize that successful networking is reciprocal by definition.

Ms. Fisher agreed, ‘I tell people to ask, thank and offer, in every single conversation, even if it's just saying: ‘Thank you. Now, what can I do for you?’ Most often people will tell you that they don't need anything, but the point is that you offered, and that alone may set you apart."

Article available at NYTimes.com Abstract