WE MAKE CNOs

An emerging corporate function in forward-looking enterprises, a Chief Networking Officer¾whether the title is implicit or explicit¾refers to the person who manages an organization's relationship network. CNOs "infect" their companies with the networking spirit and equip them with the know-how and tools they need to take full advantage of the world's most proven means of business development.

At your company, top management may choose to assign the duties of CNO to a single individual. This makes sense because it enables the organization to capture the asset value of its relationship network, and provides an executive position to manage it. The attributes of a CNO should, however, be embodied in everyone who works for your company. CNO Partners' services will give your people the skills they need, including the following:

Organizational. Managing workload to make time for effective networking.

Mechanical. Applying standards promulgated by RNIA.

Technology. Identifying the best tools for networking, and using them to maximize their benefits.

Connecting. Bringing people together to create new opportunities, reaching out to existing contacts, meeting new people, making introductions.

CNO DUTIES

N3P's Relationship Networking industry GIG ("global interest group") is identifying the basic duties of a CNO. Chief among them is formalizing their organization's relationship network. On this subject, N3P has published the following list of guidelines:

1. Mission. Clarify the organization's networking objectives and adapt them to changing circumstances.

2. Time. Determine the optimum time the organization will invest to develop and maintain its relationship network.

3. People. Decide which types of people to include in the organization's network.

4. Mechanics. Determine the best mix of online and physical interactions.

5. Workflow. Integrate networking into the organization's current activities so that it becomes a seamless part of the schedules, communications and tasks of its workforce.

6. Information. Determine how to relate networking activities to the organizations information systems.

7. Principles. Apply a consistent set of ground rules and ethics to all of the organization's networking interactions.

8. Creativity. Apply the organization's best thinking to help extract full value from its relationship network.

9. Improvement. Grow the organization's network and find the right balance between "quality vs. quantity".

10. Monetizing. Explore ways to use the organization's network to complement its business development efforts, and improve its relationships with customers, vendors and alliance partners.

11. Asset. Learn how to continually assess the value of the organization's relationship network.

12. Lifecycle. Reinforce a networking culture for as long as the organization remains a going concern.

To learn more about our approach to making CNOs, please write to us.