I Didn't See It Coming
by Nancy C. Widmann; Elaine J. Eisenman; Amy Dorn Kopelan
Buy book: $15.71

Nancy C. Widmann (New York, NY) was the first woman president at CBS, Inc. She managed CBS Radio for eight years and was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2005. She serves as an executive coach for senior managers and frequently speaks on corporate politics. Dr. Elaine J. Eisenman (Wellesley, MA) is Dean of Executive Education at Babson College. She holds a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology and has over 25 years of experience as a consultant, business executive, and board director for both public and privately held companies. Amy Dorn Kopelan (New York, NY) moved upward for 20 years through the executive ranks of ABC Television and managed programming at Good Morning America for nine years. She is President of Bedlam Entertainment, Inc., a conference management company, and founder of COACH ME Inc., which provides group coaching for mid-level managers in Fortune 500 companies.

Thanks for this title I usually skim through the books but this one caught my eye and it is on target with the changes that are going on in my company.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the week.
Thank you

I'm always looking for something to improve upon for the new year and this book is the answer to my search. Well written and on the mark for the turbulent times my company is in.

I'm finding most of the ideas to be worthwhile. But I would like to mention one warning. Networking and personal resource development tips involve others, and not everyone wants to be used in that way. Even assuming the networking could be mutual, it is not always wanted.

I have been very discouraged over time with the number of breakfast and luncheon invitations I've accepted, only to find I wasn't going to have a relaxing and pleasurable chat, I was just part of someone's networking stragegy. Usually I've ended up being a sounding board or a career advisor. I've been asked the questions suggested in this book: How did I get my job and could I suggest three other people for the person to contact, etc. I found it to be deceptive and irritating, as well as being awkward to say no to someone who I would never have otherwise spent a lunchtime or even a coffee break with.

So, my advice would be to add these four steps to the plans to network:
1. Be honest about your intentions.
2. Offer the option of lunch or an email or phone chat, rather than assuming someone wants to drive or walk to a restaurant. I have been so grateful to people who have asked me if I'd like to get together for lunch or coffee, OR if I would rather they'd call back at a convenient time so we could talk for a few minutes on the phone. I've ALWAYS opted for the phone call.
3. Remember the social graces. Follow-up call or meeting with a sincere, but slightly effusive thank you note, to let the person know the time had significance for you. Perhaps quote something they said that you will remember. Don't let them just be another name checked off your list.
4. Offer to be of assistance in any way you can help them. Then, whether or not you can help them in direct ways, speak well of them to others and mention their thoughtful willingess to be supportive of you.

I'm not presuming to know more about the subject than the writers of this book, which is, as I said, worthwhile. But the excerpts so far seem to be lacking in these realities, which I wanted to note.