In networking, the road to mastery runs through many junctions, any of which can present you with wrong turns: Here are some things to avoid in networking:

Telling too many details - The person who insists on telling everything will soon lose his audience. Don’t include everything; sketch in the broad outline. Avoid making your comments or stories so long that they become monologues.

Bragging - Focusing too much on yourself can turn people off. As the saying goes ‘tis the empty can that makes more noise.” If you have substance, it will show in your actions and demeanor. There is no need to brag about it.

Interrogating - Persistence is usually counted as a virtue. However, good small talkers know when to stop probing. The interrogator does not. She says “You should…” “Why don’t you…? Runs a close second. Long after a topic has run out of steam, the interrogator is still battling it. The interrogator generally has strong feelings about the topics and pushes her partner for agreement.

Interrupting - There are individuals who like to interrupt subordinates and show that they are more powerful. They ignore questions and insist on directing the conversation themselves.

Insisting on One-Upmanship - The person who always has a better story than yours to tell or a better deal to relate is committing one-upmanship. He/she can never merely accept a comment or story, but has to top it with one of his own. These people use small talk  to make themselves look wonderful, sometimes at the expense of others. They always try to show that they are better than  the person they are talking to. If the participant of the conversation went skiing in Vail, Colorado, they went to the Alps.

These are some things to avoid in networking. Sure, networking is important, but doing them the wrong way can cause you more harm than good.