I'm perpetually in search of the connection between networking and global public service. That is, I like uncovering what is unique about international and non-profit communities, and developing a style of communication which is based in mutual support, grounded in a longer-term social mission. 

Susan McPherson's book The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships gave me a lot to think about. Ultimately, her most important question for any communication is "how can I help?" Ram Dass wrote a book with that question as a title, and I think it's a great foundation for interacting with others in your network. 

The Gather, Ask, Do method draws on a lot of wisdom from communication literature, including the notion of knowing both what you value and longer-term common vision, being specific in what you ask / request, and taking the action necessary to cultivate your "garden" of relationships. I like the fact that McPherson has worked specifically in the world of CSR and angel investing, and those two areas include communities whose values align with her own. 

Just before reading McPherson's book, I finished both Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by Yvon Chouinard, and The Future of the Responsible Company: What We've Learned from Patagonia's First 50 Years, which Chouinard co-authored with Vincent Stanley. Inspiring and refreshing, these books restored my faith in the possibilities of business, and raised questions, again about how to network within a context of community values. 

The unifying thread within these three books is the message that "we're all in this together," here on Planet Earth, and when we keep the common good in mind, networking becomes an activity that moves us all forward. I've long admired Adam Grant's notion of how to be "giver-ish" (on the giver side without being a doormat), and Keith Ferrazzi's assertion that generosity is central to the best networking. This elevates the discussion away from self-promotion and marketing, and reminds us to keep our humanity and goodwill at the forefront as we build relationships with those around us.