subject: Business Socialising Success [print this page] We all know the feeling: you're walking towards the function and see a crowded room. Everyone seems to be chatting, eating, drinking, and socialising with ease. You look around but can't find a single familiar face. Staying back at the office is beginning to feel like a good idea. But somewhere in that room, perhaps standing there between you and the smoked salmon, might be your new boss or next big client, an important supplier, or the person who can open the door to your new career.
Business socialising is an essential career success skill. This article is based on my popular DVD The Responsible Guide Series: Business Socialising available at http://www.dianacarroll.com
Business functions are inevitable. Love them or hate them, they are an invaluable source of personal and professional contacts and offer fertile grounds of information and opportunity. But how will you ever develop these new contacts and meet these new friends if each time you go to a function you're standing in the corner talking to the pot plants and drinking too much cheap Chablis?
Being a successful socialiser is both an art and a skill. It's an art because it takes charm, creativity, and intuition to socialise with ease; and it's a skill because successful socialising takes planning, preparation and practice. It requires aims and objectives, clear strategies, and meaningful evaluation and follow-up.
Begin by creating an interesting and relevant self-introduction that tells the other person a little about you, your job, and your company. Then think about creating conversation with someone you've just met. Next, focus on how you will move around the room, meeting and greeting many people but also taking the time to build relationships and have a meaningful exchange. Finally, practice moving on graciously when enough is enough.
Everyone can learn to be a successful socialiser. My articles Five Top Tips for Business Socialising Success and Five Business Socialising Insights will help you optimise every social situation so you can enjoy the vast business and personal benefits they can bring. There are more free resources at my website http://www.dianacarroll.com for you to enjoy.
