leadership networking: connect, collaborat

Networking is essential to effective leadership in today's organizations. Leaders who are skilled networkers have access to people, information, and resources to help solve problems and create opportunities. Leaders who neglect their networks are missing out on a critical component of their role as leaders. This book will help leaders take a new view of networking and provide insight into how to enhance their networks and become effective at leadership networking.

This series of guidebooks draws on the practical knowledge that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has generated, since its inception in 1970, through its research and educational activity conducted in partnership with hundreds of thousands of managers and executives. Much of this knowledge is shared-in a way that is distinct from the typical university department, professional association, or consultancy. CCL is not simply a collection of individual experts, although the individual credentials of its staff are impressive; rather it is a community, with its members holding certain principles in common and working together to understand and generate practical responses to today's leadership and organizational challenges.
The purpose of the series is to provide managers with specific advice on how to complete a developmental task or solve a leadership challenge. In doing that, the series carries out CCL's mission to advance the understanding, practice, and development of leadership for the benefit of society worldwide.


Curt Grayson is an enterprise associate of CCL's San Diego campus. He is a trainer for open-enrollment and custom programs, and he assists in the design, development, and modification of programs. Curt holds a B.S. in psychology from San Diego State University, an M.A. in clinical psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology, and a Ph.D. in organizational psychology from California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles.


David Baldwin is a former CCL faculty member. He was based at the San Diego campus, where he facilitated open-enrollment programs and managed custom programs, research projects, and blended learning initiatives. David holds a B.A. in speech communication from San Diego State University and an M.S. in organizational communication studies from Illinois State University.

7 Networking for Leaders


10 Mapping Your Network


11 Six Requirements of Leadership Networking


16 Barriers to Building a Leadership Network


20 Assessing Your Network


25 Strategies for Developing Your Leadership Network


28 Setting Goals and Taking Action


30 Suggested Readings


30 Background


31 Key Point Summary