Today’s organizations are collaborative. With old command-and-control methods replaced by openness and transparency, networking has become an essential professional skill - expected of everyone, at every level.Unveiling eight indispensable competencies for the new Network-Oriented Workforce, Strategic Connections provides practical advice for building better, more productive business relationships. Readers will discover how to: Commit to a positive, proactive networking mindsetAlign networking activities with individual and organizational objectivesLeverage their contacts by organizing them into strategic groupsEarn trust - a prerequisite for collaborationBoost their social acumen and increase their likeabilityMaster conversational skills and deepen interactionsEmploy storytelling to make communications memorableUse networking to deliver value to the company Thanks to technology, new contacts are only a click away. But the level of connection and collaboration required for real success demands advanced face-to-face relationship-building skills. This book gives you the tools you need to meet goals, execute strategies, foster innovation, and make yourself invaluable to your organization.