Networking opportunities crop up pretty much 24/7 -- while you're waiting for an elevator, standing in line for coffee, traveling, shopping in the supermarket, even going to another floor of the building where you work. More formal opportunities for meeting people include training sessions, special interest groups, media briefings, conventions and, of course, social gatherings. Helping people connect on the Internet has turned into its own business with virtual business cards, pop-up reminders, and a host of ways to get ahead professionally and socially through others.

Networking: The Right Way To Make Connections

While creating connections within any business or social environment is important, timing is everything, so it's important to learn how to insert yourself into a conversation. We've all experienced the uncomfortable encounter with someone who barges into the chat and starts nattering away without regard for what else might be occurring. This is why it's important to pay attention to the ebb and flow of a conversation.

Wait until people are between topics, or have made a definite pause in their speaking before introducing yourself. If you're in a group, match what you say to what has just been said and, if at all possible, do so gently and humorously. Non-sequitur introductions are awkward and can make you look insensitive and egotistical. Mention things you have in common, like a mutual acquaintance, but never imply that you have more of a relationship than you do. This will blow up in your face more times than not. People can usually spot a phony name-drop a mile away -- and, with your luck, the person whose name you're dropping may be the best friend of the person to whom you are speaking.

Carry business cards with you all the time. You never know when someone will ask you for one. And keep contact details of everyone you meet, including phone, e-mail, job title, and location. Whether you use one of the networking services or a simple database program, it's useful to be able to sort your contacts in a variety of ways, like companies, areas of expertise in the industry, or mutual acquaintances.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom made you write thank-you notes? Whether it's a handwritten note or a quick e-mail, that kind of courtesy never goes out of style. Follow up an initial meeting with a new acquaintance as soon as possible. Send a short e-mail to say how pleased you were to meet them. The rewards may not be apparent at the time but they're definitely worth the effort. These are great ways to create a positive impression and help people remember who you are in a good way, which is an important part of successful networking.

Let's face it ... the games industry can be a pretty small world so you never know when you're going to come across someone with whom you used to work or someone who knows someone. If you've got a trail of burned bridges and failed communications behind you, the best networking in the world probably won't help but a strong network of friends and colleagues who respect you will.

Negotiating: Be A Diplomat!

Diplomacy is defined as "the skill in managing negotiations and handling people so that there is little or no ill will." It's about forging alliances especially, in this case, in your professional world. You never know when you might need some extra support or information. Even with your best networking contacts, you still need tact, diplomacy, and excellent people skills to handle negotiations well.

The classic approach to negotiation is for two sides to defend their own bargaining positions. While this is easily achieved in a duel outside Ironforge, it's a little more complicated in the real world. Winning a battle of wills can still prejudice your relationship with your counterpart, and could negatively affect the outcome of your project, which is why you need to develop productive approaches in which you are clear about your needs and your goals. Being successful in that kind of diplomacy will gain you more influence in the long run.

Conflict can actually be a source of creativity if you can redirect it to find productive solutions and turn it into an opportunity for negotiation. If you find yourself involved in conflict, take a deep breath and focus your attention on the impersonal issues underlying the dispute. Ask a question that probes for the cause of negative personal criticism. Then delineate the impersonal issues that you think are involved and see if the other party agrees.