Oprah Winfrey once said "Please take responsibility for the energy you bring into this space." I think that's a great quote for networking, as it puts you in the drivers seat of communication in any venue. It emphasizes that we have a choice in how we show up in the world, how authentic we are, and the degree to which we connect with those around us. 

Too often we see networking as something negative: a way of manipulating others and leveraging influence. What if we shifted that perception so that networking became a channel for curiosity and generosity? 

The first step in geting networking right is to follow Plato's old adage "know thyself." That is to say, each of us has a different communication style, and knowing your own can make all the difference in your happiness and success. 

There are different ways to slice your style. For example, in Networking for People who Hate Networking (2nd ed), Devora Zack uses the foundation of introvert / extrovert as outlined in the Myers-Briggs. She notes, for example, that "extroverts go wide" while "introverts go deep." 

In Strategic Connections: The New Face of Networking in a Collaborative World, we present the foundation in Chapter 1, "Commit to a New Networker Identity." That identity should be be based in your best self - authentic, energetic and aligned with your style. Bring joy to conversations, and take responsibility for the energy that you bring into a room.