Networking is about meeting your own needs, as well as helping others address their interests. In other words, it's a reciprocal process oriented towards building relationships -- especially within an organization, where individuals share a common setting and culture.
There's always a risk of coming across too strong when networking for a specific reason. Consider how you approach others with whom you work. Are you genuinely interested in them? Want to help them? Your fundamental motivation and orientation towards networking shows in every interaction with your fellow employees (or members, if you're in a community, business, or professional organization).
More important, I believe business professionals should see every interaction inside and outside the company as an opportunity to networking. Life presents a bounty of gifts in the form of the people we meet -- if only we are open to meeting and connecting with them in meaningful ways.
(Six related posts continue this discussion of internal networking. Check out part 1, part 2, part 3 (this post), part 4, part 5, part 6, and part 7.)
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