10 Rules To Network Successfully Without Being Annoying

As a former CMO-turned professor, I am now being connected with more young people. I’ve found, however, that there is a wide variance in the effectiveness with which people attempt to network. On one end of the spectrum is the individual who is respectful of your time, is organized and prepared for the conversation and who follows up on advice given. On the other end of the spectrum is the person who keeps coming back for more and more time, is disorganized and unprepared for conversations, and who drops the ball only to reappear 6 months later with another request. Given the importance of learning how to network effectively, I thought I’d offer 10 suggestions for how to do so without aggravating the individual with whom you are asking a favor.