Networking is a good thing, right? It is a great way for professional women like you to meet people, build relationships, find opportunities, expand your skill sets and establish a reputation. So is there really too much of a good thing? When it comes to networking, the answer is definitely yes.

If you stop and think about it, you can probably identify at least a couple of people in your business community or industry that are over-networked. These individuals tend to belong to many organizations, attend tons of events, serve in multiple leadership roles, and participate in speaker and awards programs each and every year - and do anything else that gains them visibility. While each of these networking activities in a reasonable amount is positive, doing too many can lead to a case of quantity over quality.

Anyone can be visible – if you are in enough places often enough, people will begin to recognize you, and your name will become known. Being credible, however, is a higher level of recognition, where your expertise, integrity and influence develop into a positive reputation. Professional women need to be especially cognizant about whether their networking habits help or hurt them.

So how can you create the right kind of visibility while developing credibility?

Participate only in relevant organizations and events. Focus your participation on things that make sense for your business, rather than trying to be in as many places as possible.

Network with your true peers. If you are an executive or business owner, get involved where other executives network. Don’t sell yourself short and network in groups and events comprised of professionals at lower levels, simply due to habit or nerves.

Focus on leadership roles rather than membership. You will get much more out of an organization if you volunteer for a committee or board, rather than simply participating as a member. It is better to single yourself out as a leader of one organization than to merely be a member of several.

Follow through with your commitments. If you take on any kind of a volunteer role, be sure to deliver what you promised. The quickest way to develop a negative reputation is to fail to follow through. Only commit to those activities you know you have the time and ability to accomplish.
   
Develop relationships, not contacts. Simply meeting many people through networking is not effective. If a large number of people have heard of you and perhaps even met you once or twice, this constitutes visibility. If a smaller number of people personally know you, can speak to your unique capabilities, and will serve as advocates for you, this constitutes credibility. Focus on developing relationships and trust with key individuals.
 
It is relatively easy to become well known and well liked, but that alone will probably not get you the results you hope for. Strategic networking can be a powerful tool to help you develop both visibility and credibility, which is of real value.

The author can be reached at www.marnylifshen.com.

ClubCorp. The World Leader in Private Clubs

Would you like to be part of something where the goal is to "build relationships and enrich lives"? Do you ever need an "office away from your office" or a special place to meet a colleague or friend? Do you ever wish you had a prestigious country club to host a dinner or round of golf?

Well, you do! ClubCorp, the largest, most prestigious group of private business and country clubs in the world, is extending an exclusive invitation for the w2wlink.com community to be a "Member for a Day". Thousands of discriminating professional women and community leaders trust ClubCorp to host their social and business events every day. You too can experience the ClubCorp difference.