Tips on Working a Room
A business mixer can be a wonderful opportunity to present oneself professionally and at the same time send messages of credibility, expertise, maturity, and self awareness.
On the other hand, it can be a disastrous time to step on people’s toes (literally and figuratively), reveal a streak of self-centeredness, and reveal we care more about technology than we do about people.
“Working a room” requires preparation, thoughtfulness, mindfulness, self-discipline, and an appreciation of some basic Do’s and Don’ts.
- Business cards: Consider a business card exchange to be the equivalent of handing someone a Polaroid snapshot of yourself–Are “you” up to date? “Neatly” presented (or bent and soiled)? On the receiving end, at least pretend to look at the card, make a comment or ask a question. Don’t just shove it into a pocket or purse. If you do, your card will end up in the nearest trashcan.
- Name-tags: Wear it on your right side, so the eye can travel up the handshake arm, directly to your name and your eyes. And always “present” your name–both first and last, slowly; never assume we will remember who you are unless you are the Queen of England.
- Shaking hands: Make it energetic and engaged but not bone-crunching. Make it gender neutral. Use the thumb web-to-web technique and eliminate jewelry which might distract from your confident energy or even cause pain. Do not apologize for a cold hand or wet hand (be engaging, use eye contact….and carry powder and a handkerchief in your pocket for the latter…and no one will notice).
- Logistics:
** Move out of the doorway; then scope out where you want to go and why. If shy, choose the shyest looking person in the room to go to first. You will make a friend forever.
** Carry your drink in your left hand, leaving your right hand dry and unencumbered for the firm, fully confident handshake you will be giving.
** Eat before you go. You cannot juggle a wobbly plate of food, a wine glass and shake hands professionally. Grazing can be an excuse for avoiding meeting as many people as possible.
** Plan and practice aloud your “presentation” of self, sometimes called the “elevator speech” (no more than 45 seconds in length). It should be memorized yet flexible enough to be adapted to various “audiences,” and each time you say it, it must sound fresh, energetic, and sincere.
** Move to people you don’t know. Don’t huddle with the people you do. It is easy and comfortable to flock together, but working a room requires going outside those you know best and outside your comfort zone. This is not a high school hallway; it a professional business zone.
5. Technology Etiquette
** Don’t enter the room looking like Techno/Verizon Man. Remove devices from your belt and ears. Put your cell phone on vibrate unless you are waiting for a call about a heart transplant. Do NOT even look to see who is calling, unless your wife is expected to go into labor momentarily, and if this is so, you should not be out “working a room.”
In the world of business, as in theatre, we are always “on.” A business mixer truly puts us in the spotlight. We are always being watched, even when we think we are not. Just make sure yours is the business card they keep…..and call.
