ventions, off-site meetings, and cocktail parties thousands of miles away from the office. You certainly don’t have to be at a state dinner to make a power- ful networking connection. Oprah says the most important decision of her professional life came about as the result of some figures doodled on a napkin while din- ing with film critic Roger Ebert at a Hamburger Hamlet. In this era of economic trials and technol- ogy essential for interpersonal communication, we must embrace and continue to grow opportunities for face-to-face meetings. Social events associated with con- ventions are career opportunities. A cocktail party at a con- vention, a luncheon, and even the 15-minute break between educational sessions could be simply opportunities to eat and drink. Or they could be your chance to really connect.
MASTERING THE MOMENT I’m not suggesting you slip your résumé under someone’s drink at an event, but do use your napkin as your to-do list—your master plan! For instance, you might start by turning that long line to the open bar into a one-on-one “chance” meeting. You can easily open with your passion for the evening’s cause and close by arranging your next meeting in someone’s corner office. Since those three minutes in line may be the only time you get to make an impression, you’ve got to make every second count. Tat’s why it’s crucial to plan your networking strategies before you even walk in the door. Tat starts with identifying your social scenes, learning the tips and techniques to empower yourself as a guest, and getting invited to and attending powerful events. In social networking, as in most things, knowledge is power. So it’s also important to do your homework. I’ve found that one of the best ways to begin a conversation or join one in progress is to arm yourself with the latest informa- tion on a wide range of topics—an easy task in the Internet age.
www.elitemeetings.com
By being current on a
breadth of subjects, you’ll appear both credible and im-
pressive because of your ability to interact as an active participant on many topics, not just a few. You don’t need to become an ex-
pert. By reading the front page of each section of the newspaper—world, business, sports, entertainment, style, and local news— you can be ready to comment on any topic. At
the very least, you’ll want to make the most of the time you spend getting dressed or driving to the event. You’ll be amazed at the information you retain
that you’ve heard in the background. I recommend you spend 30 minutes tuned into a TV news channel or radio station like NPR. And always take the time to find out the clos- ing stock positions of any companies that will be present at the gathering before you walk out the door. A stock’s performance can tell you when to congratulate and when to talk about some- thing else. Because these events are opportunities to make the right im-
pression, you’ll ultimately achieve your goals not by asking what people can do for you, but what you can do for others. My career path from White House volunteer to point person behind more than 1,000 events resulted from an ability to harness social connec- tions. My story may be unique, but my ability to turn conversation into opportunity is not. One thing I’ve learned from colleagues and mentors all over the world is that each one of us is powerful and, to varying extents, social. Te secret is knowing when, where, and how to use that power to reach your goals and to help someone else reach theirs. Whether it’s a conference, business lunch, birthday party, or black-tie gala, you have the power to make every event beneficial and the power to make an impact.
Laura Schwartz’s Eat, Drink & Succeed is available for $16.95 in bookstores and online from
Amazon.com and www.EatDrink
andSucceed.com.
19
Illustration by Stockbyte
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