The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks [Hardcover]

Michael Dulworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

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. It's just too important to be left to chance. With "The Connect Effect" you can take a conscious, systematic approach to networking. To begin with, Author Michael Dulworth helps you evaluate how network-savvy you are. Dulworth then identifies three distinct kinds of networks: personal, professional, and virtual, exploring their specific characteristics and offering strategies, tools, and resources for building up and making the best use of each one. Stories from Dulworth's over 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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise from the Publisher

"Nothing is more important to the leader of the future than networking. The Connect Effect explains what you need to do and how to do it!"
-- Marshall Goldsmith, author of the Wall Street Journal #1 bestselling business book, What Got You Here Won't Get You There

"The Connect Effect is a practical and informative guide to helping people (and organizations) improve their networks, reach their potential, and achieve great things."
--Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management, London Business School, and author of Hot Spots

"From both a corporate and an individual perspective, building strong productive networks is mission critical. The Connect Effect is a practical guide to how we become better at the art and science of networking and how we use that to propel our businesses and our careers."
--Lynne Bartusek, Vice President, Associate Recruitment, Inclusion and Diversity, JCPenney

"As leaders and individuals work, and live, more globally every day, technology may make connecting easier, but it is the quality of the connection that is the key differentiator. The Connect Effect is a vital resource to today's leaders, advising them on tried-and-true tactics, techniques, and tools for creating connections that last."
--Leslie W. Joyce, PhD, Vice President and Chief Learning Officer, The Home Depot

"Mike Dulworth provides the keys to networking in our fast-moving global society. His invaluable experience and advice can help novices and successful networkers achieve their optimum networking quotient and enhance their opportunities for personal and professional success."
--Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP, Former Assistant to President Clinton and Cabinet Secretary, 1997-2001

"What really distinguishes high performers from the rest of the pack is their ability to maintain and leverage personal networks. The most effective create and tap large, diversified networks that are rich in experience and span all organizational boundaries. The Connect Effect is a practical, advice-filled, engaging book that will help its readers make significant improvements in their own networks' effectiveness."
-- Rob Cross, Assistant Professor, McIntire School of Business, University of Virginia, and coauthor of The Hidden Power of Social Networks

About the Author

Michael Dulworth has been running executive networks for over 20 years. He ran the Compensation Council at The Conference Board when he was 25 years old, co-directed a network for plant managers/GMs while running his own consulting firm, ran the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Concours at The Concours Group and is currently President and CEO of Executive Development Associates, Inc., a business that is the leader in executive networks for HR professionals in large organisations (12 networks with over 250 members from 170 leading companies worldwide). He has also recently published chapters on networking in two books, The Future of Executive Development (self-published by EDA in 2005) and The Pfeiffer Leadership Annual (JB/Pfeiffer, 2006) and published two online columns in Fast Company and an article in Employee Relations Today (September 2006). He lives in San Francisco, CA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576754626
• ISBN-13: 978-1576754627
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful, January 26, 2008

By 

William C. Goodwin "Bill G" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks (Hardcover)

I must say that I found this book very insightful. I thought I had a well-developed network, but now realize that with a little more effort and a better approach I can leverage my network for both professional and personal growth. This book was a great read and it will definitely be a good resource for me going forward.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Advancing Leadership Through Personal Development, January 16, 2008

By 

John J. Koriath "http://www.fullcirclelearnin... (Vashon, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks (Hardcover)

This book helps to map the territory of how to grow effective and authentic relationships through your networks. It provides an important tool for personal development and the leadership that emerges from this work. As such it's lessons also serve as tools in the effective use of coaching.
Executive Coaching for Results: The Definitive Guide to Developing Organizational Leaders

Timely ideas confirming that none of us make it alone.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, effective tools for common sense networking success, June 11, 2008

By 

Andreas R. Flury (Zürich, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Connect Effect: Building Strong Personal, Professional, and Virtual Networks (Hardcover)

Mike Dulworth reiterates what we all seem to know and still forget or neglect so often: Success is closely linked to knowing people and most importantly staying in touch with them as well as being of service to them.
Mike goes beyond describing and recognizing the tremendous effects of a network, he provides simple and effective tools to implement the few key steps to build and maintain my own network. I particularly liked the idea of the Personal Board of Directors, which at its core is nothing more than a formal request for permission to ask for advice. I personally implemented this tool right away and with minimal effort. After a few short weeks I already enjoy positive results.