Connectworking: The Savvy Woman's Guide To Turning Small Talk into Big Business

Networking is the #1 unwritten rule for success. Kicking that up into high gear to get personal? That’s connectworking™! The great irony in this hyper-connected world is that although we have more ways than ever to communicate, we are craving personal connection! Making personal connections (whether you’re working across divisions, smashing glass ceilings, addressing your entire target market or building a business) in a digital age is hard. Differentiating personal, company and product brands can be challenging. The people who can talk to, communicate and connect with others are the ones who will succeed. Yet according to a Harvard Business Review research report, an astounding 77 percent of the women surveyed believe that hard work and long hours, not connections (which they view with disdain as too sales-y), will secure their advancement. Ratcheting up our outreach efforts can bring us role models. Access to specific advice and diverse resources. An audience on whom to test our ideas. Mentors and sponsors. Investors. Solid relationships with partners, co-workers, vendors and customers. It all circles back to connectworking. What are you committed to? Go and make it happen!

Susan Dench is a veteran marketer, training and development professional and master of the art of conversation. Her lively presentations and workshops on her trademarked connectworking(TM) concept engage, energize and empower diverse corporate and entrepreneurial audiences who want to stand out from the crowd by creating personal connections in a hyper-connected world - in both work and life. Susan's company, The Connectworks Academy (theconnectworks.com), provides leadership development and targeted content management focused on communications for and to women. As her children will be only too happy to confirm, Susan is never afraid to give her opinion if asked (and usually if not asked). She lives on the coast of Maine with her exceedingly indulgent husband and admittedly spoiled dogs. She can be reached at susan@susandench.com or twitter.com/SusanDench.