A Peek Inside the Cover: "Networking is a Contact Sport"

     For many of us, the classic definition of networking is something similar to “the process of establishing beneficial relationships with other business people and potential clients and customers, or a way for like-minded confederates to exchange information, ideas, and support” (Sweeney, 2010, p. 12). However, author Joe Sweeney uses his book, “Networking is a Contact Sport,” based on personal experience as a successful business man and his love for sports along with the analogies that can be drawn from such, to reinvent how one views networking. Built upon the communicative focus of building and maintaining genuine relationships over time and presented as “an opportunity to give, not to get”, networking is approached from a new angle (Sweeney,2010, p. 12). More specifically, Sweeney explores networking from an angle which continuously highlights the reciprocal nature of the networking process. As each chapter takes the reader through different aspects of networking and doing so effectively, Sweeney presents several examples from his own experience and how he has made networking work for him and his business as well as personal relationships. Covering everything from the basic dos and don’ts of networking to the pros and drawbacks of social media as a networking tool there is a little bit of something for every individual.


     Within the book, there are several twist on the traditional view of networking, but two ideas and strategies really stand out as innovative. The first strategy is what Sweeney calls the “5/10/15 program”. This plan is a way for individuals to implement general networking strategies in a strategic manner that holds them accountable from day to day. Encompassing 5 encounters/meetings, sending out 10 pieces of correspondence, and making 15 phone calls a day, Sweeney’s plan emphasizes how establishing a network is only the beginning and to maintain these contacts one must put in a little work. In addition, Sweeney (2010) shares the importance of having what he calls a wingman or “someone who’ll fly by your side, prepared to watch your flank and see things you don’t see…a sounding board, a strong listener who’s available at any time to dialogue with you about what’s happening in your life and what you’re feeling” (p. 101). According to Sweeney (2010), the importance of having such an individual in your life is paramount not only in making sound business decisions but also to your overall wellbeing. Overall, Sweeney’s emphasis on these two strategies seems to directly attest to the importance of relationships as he focuses not only on how to build, but how to maintain relationships and make networking work for you long-term. Sweeney provides practical strategies of handling what otherwise may seem to be a daunting task for those just getting a hang of the networking process.


     Not only does Sweeney do a great job of taking on a new and fresh perspective of networking, but he is able to tie these new ideas into an age old perception of networking and relationships. More specifically, he does a thorough job of addressing the concept of  career as inheritance. Inheritance, as introduced by Inkson in his book "Understanding Careers: The Metaphors of Working Lives", is seen as a set of predetermined factors (i.e., race, gender, and socioeconomic class) which make it “possible to predict aspects of our career in advance” (2007, p. 28). Keeping this in mind, one thing I really appreciated about this book is that although as a white Irishman man Sweeney has not experience the implications of race and gender, within networking, he recognizes that such implications exist and he finds individuals well suited to speak on these issues within their respective chapters. Two chapters, networking isn’t all Black and White and Networking as a Women, give great insight into how individuals can combat obstacles that may arise from their “inheritance” and find a networking strategy that is tailored to their specific needs and allows them to succeed in Corporate America. Furthermore, in addition to his exploration of inheritance, there is a continuous yet subtle mention of how networking and one’s career can be seen as a journey as the author calls on his own personal experiences, from the age of eight to the present, and the different roles such as businessman family man, “wingman”, and mentor that he has fulfilled throughout the years.


     Although it is packed with a plethora of useful information, the book does have its shortcomings. For one, the examples provided throughout the book are based almost entirely on Joe Sweeney’s experiences. Such a narrow scope of experience, unfortunately, does not lend much credibility to the success rates of presented strategies because as we all know what works for one individual may not work for the next. In addition, though the tips and strategies Sweeney provides may prove to be useful to many other individuals similar to Sweeney, majority of the book, with the exception of one chapter, focuses on strategies more suited for the individual who has already begun his or her career. Unfortunately, the resulting audience, able to benefit from Sweeney’s advice, is narrow and isolates what could have been a broader group of individuals and encompassed those such as college students who have yet to make the initial steps in the networking process.


     Overall, I found the book to be an interesting and easy read. Written in a way which truly engages the reader while providing clear and easy to follow examples, the book is one that I believe almost any individual can benefit from reading as they try to grasp the ins and outs of networking. Whether or not the particular strategies will prove successful for all or even most individuals, I am not sure. Yet, by recognizing and using Sweeney’s advice and strategies as not a full proof plan, but a basis for building one’s own networking strategies, which are best suited for each individual needs, I believe much value can be obtained from the book. Because it is not always easy to start from scratch, especially in a situation which you are unfamiliar with, I do believe Sweeney’s advice is a good start to anyone interested in becoming a player in the networking game.

Source: Sweeny, J. (2010). Networking is a Contact Sport. Dallas: BenBella Books