Lawyers are often told how important professional networking is. But many find it so uncomfortable they feel physically dirty. Why is professional networking so distressing to so many? And how can you overcome it and be successful?

In this month's "Asked and Answered" podcast, we speak to Tiziana Casciaro, one of the authors of a recent study, "The Contaminating Effects of Building Instrumental Ties: How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty," published in Administrative Science Quarterly. She shares with moderator Stephanie Francis Ward some tips for getting past this mental block, and how to feel better about reaching out to potential clients and colleagues.

Tiziana Casciaro is an associate professor of organizational behavior at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management. Her work focuses on the social-psychological mechanisms responsible for the formation and growth of social networks within and between organizations. She's also a co-author of a recent Administrative Science Quarterly article, "The Contaminating Effects of Building Instrumental Ties: How Networking Can Make Us Feel Dirty."

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