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As public relations and communications students, strategic networking is a skill we must all one day master. Though by no means have I achieved the status of “Networking Ninja”, I have started to apply many simple networking tips from five insightful authors. With these books, mastering networking will be within your reach!

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie

By far the most well-known book about networking, Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People was first published in 1936. It’s a bestseller that is inarguably filled with excellent networking advice that has led millions to success.

Carnegie highlights six ways to make people like you (smile, be a good listener, and remember their name, to give a few), as well as twelve ways to convince other people to adapt your opinion or way of thinking (i.e. show respect and admit when you’re wrong).

This book is perfect for you if want to become a social influencer, would like to improve your leadership abilities, or if you simply appreciate hearing timeless advice in a constantly-changing industry.

2. Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, James H. Fowler and Nicholas A. Christakis

If you’ve ever conducted a job search, you know that finding employment often seems to be less about who you are, but who you know. Everyone knows that building a professional network is important, but what about other networks? Friends and family, friends of friends, and friends of family…how do they fit in?

In Connected, Fowler and Christakis explore and respond to this very question. The authors present “Five Rules of Life in the Network” to help readers understand how their network develops and how its transformations affect them. Fowler and Christakis also emphasize the importance of surrounding yourself with high value people and ending connections with people who distract you from accomplishing your own goals.

You need to read this book if you want tips on how to strategically build your personal and professional networks, and then learn how to leverage these connections to help achieve your goals.

3. Never Eat Alone, Keith Ferrazzi

In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi presents the steps he uses every day to help connect with the most powerful players in any industry. His networking tips are based on the principles of helpfulness and generosity and Ferrazzi thinks very poorly of networking that does not primarily involve building a strong relationship.

Among his most important tips, Ferrazzi emphasizes reaching out to your network all the time – not just when you need something from them. He also suggests making sure a relationship is mutually beneficial. Consider: what do you have to offer your new contact? It could be something as simple as a good book recommendation! He teaches these lessons using a collection of networking advice from celebrities and famous social influencers.

Interestingly, Ferrazzi recently launched an online guide to building your network on Udemy, a popular e-learning platform. The networking course costs $79.00, but will pay for itself as your career blossoms.

Never Eat Alone is a must-read for you if you want to appear more confident at networking events, or wish that you could command attention in a crowded room of industry leaders.

4. Social Intelligence,Daniel Goleman

In Social Intelligence, Goleman presents a scientific approach to networking. Studying the principles of neuroscience and biology, he suggests that the human brain is wired to impact the brain and biology of whomever you are interacting with.

Encounters with family, friends, bosses, colleagues and strangers all create different emotional reactions within a person. For example, a strong and positive emotional connection has ripple effects from your brain throughout your body. Conversely, stressful and negative encounters have toxic effects on your biology.

Though not focussed specifically on networking or the public relations industry, Social Intelligence is an excellent read for those interested in learning more about what happens neurologically when you shake someone’s hand, meet your boss for the first time, when you lie or are lied to. Becoming more aware of human nature will help improve your methods of interacting with others.

5. The Charisma Myth, Olivia Fox Cabane

When you attend PR events and start networking with practitioners, or even with other students, one of the things that will make you stand out from the crowd is your charisma.

Cabane believes that the idea that a person is born either with or without the gift of charisma is a myth. She destroys this myth and teaches readers how to become more charismatic.

Ultimately, enhancing your charisma doesn’t mean changing who you are, but using your own personality and the basic components of charisma described by Cabane to become a more influential and more persuasive networker.

There are my must-reads to improve networking! This list is certainly not exhaustive – please comment below if you’ve read another book that has helped you become a more successful networker. I’d love to hear from you!

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Erika Manassis is the CPRS Toronto Student Steering Committee Representative for Seneca College’s Corporate Communications Certificate Program.