The value of networking in business

To gain intelligence and build alliances.
Create support groups - leaders cannot lead alone.
Foster knowledge leadership.
Offer support in return - fair exchange.
Relationship building takes time - it's not strategic to network only when you want something.
Be proactive in finding out how you can help others.
It cannot just be about meeting your own needs.

Networking is a strategic investment of executive time - you have to plan who, when, what you will talk about and how often.
Unplanned networking will not happen.
Leaders often have no one to confide in within their organization - external peers can play an vital sounding board role and reality check.
See key contacts regularly, strive to network with those you have the most to learn from, but be sure you can make the contact rewarding for them as well.
Being a good listener, empathetic and supportive, asking open ended, exploratory questions can be even more useful than offering your own opinions or knowledge.
Networking means asking contacts who they know - approach the referral by saying ''My friend said you would be a good person to talk to about X'' - a little flattery helps.

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