The Social Side of Business
Refusing to take part in social events with your coworkers can negatively impact your relationships on the job; and avoiding the "social circles" in your industry can limit your effectiveness as well as your future prospects.
Making connections with key people in your industry is a vital part of your career plan. There are often networking events at conferences and conventions, and as parts of a professional organizations, that enable professionals to make contact with others in their profession.
Of key importance is to have a purpose in mind: you're not out to win friends, you're out to make contacts as the groundwork for future collaboration - and it's worth noting that others are there to do the same, and that "working a room" is expected.
Developing relationships is also done at social events with co-workers, as well as any gathering of colleagues (or even one-on-one).
EN: In general, this strikes me as good advice, but there's something unctuous here that doesn't set well with me ... not entirely sure of what it might be.