10 Traits that Make You a Master Networker—and Grow Your Business

Networking is more than shaking hands and passing around business cards. Based on a survey I conducted of more than 2,000 people throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, it's about building your "social capital." The highest-rated traits in the survey are the ones related to developing and maintaining good relationships.

For years I've been teaching people that this process is more about "farming" than it is about "hunting." It's about cultivating relationships with other business professionals. It's about realizing the capital that comes from building social relationships.

The following traits were ranked in order of perceived importance to networking. They are the traits that will make you a "master networker."