Tips on Working the Room
Dave Sherman, Guest Author
How often has this happened to you? You show up at a networking function or a social function fashionably late. The room is filled with people
mixing, mingling, and schmoozing.
Unfortunately for you, everybody has formed small groups of three to five people and there are very few people left with whom you can create a
conversation. You start to feel nervous and uncomfortable. You start questioning whether you should have attended this event. You start to sweat,
unless you're a woman and then you start to "glow."
This is a relatively common situation. When people walk into a networking function fashionably late, they often find themselves stuck in a group of one. One of the simplest ways to avoid this ever happening is by showing up at every function at least 15 minutes early. By arriving early, people get to meet the movers and shakers of the event and have the opportunity to get socially comfortable more quickly.
However, if you happen to find yourself without anyone to talk to, here are a few simple tips to easily and gracefully enter a conversation with a small group of people.
- First of all, take time to observe the body language of the group. If they appear to be standing closer than normal and speaking in hushed tones,
this is a group that wants to be left alone.
- As you walk around the room, look for groups of people that are standing about 2 to 3 feet from each other and carrying on what looks to be a somewhat nervous
conversation.
- Once you've spotted a group you would like to join, slowly approach the group and casually start listening to the conversations. It's very important
that the members of this group see that you are attempting to join them. Hopefully, someone in the group will invite you to join them. If not, keep reading.
- As you are listening to the conversation, show genuine interest in what's being said. Use facial expressions, body gestures, and anything else that shows
your interest in the topic being discussed.
- If an opportunity presents itself for you to share a comment, thought, or opinion with the group, feel free to do so but at no time should you try to
monopolize the conversation of the group.
- Once you've been accepted as a member of the group, take time to introduce yourself to each group member so they'll get to know your name but, more
importantly, you'll get to know theirs too.
- If the group you would like to join appears to be unresponsive to you, don't take it personally. Walk around the room, find another group, and start
the process all over again.
Copyright © - Dave Sherman - Reprinted with permission. Dave Sherman is the founder and president of
Connection Pros, a speaking, training, and
coaching organization that helps people develop dynamic relationships with others. He is also the founder of
Amazing Mastermind Groups; a
company that helps small business owners achieve explosive growth through the process of masterminding.
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The Networking Guy's Top 50 Tips: A Simple Guide to Networking Success - Dave Sherman - These 50 success-proven tips will change
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