I'm obliged to protect my trademark for How To Work a Room® in the digital category awarded to me by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. To do that, periodically, we search for videos by that title (or a facsimile thereof). I just watched a yotube video by a regarded expert on networking featuring what he advises to do to work a room at a networking event.
START CONVERSATIONS With SMALL TALK
Rather than starting with small talk, he thinks you should find someone in the room and ask them about their goals, what motiviates them, what concerns them, etc. His suggestion sounds credible and sincere but is one I warn against. Frankly, if I just met someone who started asking me such questions without exchanging pleasantries, establishing rapport, conversation or a palpable connection, I would be suspicious and exit.
EARN THE RIGHT TO ASK
You never start a conversation with a new person with questions that delve deeply.(Nor heavy topics such as famine, war, and other atrocities). An event isn't a time to do a "profile" of other attendees. Small talk is how you establish common interests and THEN you proceed from there. Mr. Expert also suggested that small talk isn't memorable. That may be true UNTIL you find that common interest that clicks and connects. Once you do ....the conversation moves and grows. But it's small talk that earns you the right to open up the doors to other topics.
DEEP DISH PIZZA PROBE
When I meet someone who lived in or visited the Chicagoland area, I immediately ask where they ate pizza. It doesn't matter if I'm talking to the Senior VP of a Fortune 20 company, an IT specialist or a hairstylist (all of whom I have met and had the Pizza chat). You see, Chicago pizza is a topic that transcends age, background, position, job title. It's a small talk topic that establishes a "deep" connection and therefore, becomes memorable.
For more ideas on how to prepare to attend any and every event and get comfortable with walking into rooms full of strangers.....How To Work a Room® is the best guide you'll find according to Dan Bough's post.
Click her for free articles on how to socialize,mingle, converse and work any room!
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