9 Steps To Working A Crowd

At a banquet, a business seminar or a social gathering; these 9 steps can make you effective socially and professionally. Plan for Payoffs: Set objectives in advance to achieve personal & professional benefits from the event, i.e., personal: I'll meet new people with different interests. professional; a chance to promote my new, improved image to prospective endorsers. Put Others At Ease: Adopt a host not guest mentality. Actively put others at ease. You won't have time to worry about your own discomfort. To start a conversation and be included in a group, have the host introduce you when possible. On your own?: move to the outside of a ring of people. Make eye contact and listen first. Wait for an opening to speak. Don't Get Locked in with Friends: You already know your friends. Though it't more comfortable to talk to them, you're there to meet new people, fulfill a contract or get new business. You may never have another chance with today's strangers. Remember, new people expand your horizons and may be good business contacts! ID Common Links and Interests: Discuss your chosen topic of interest. (Something other than sports that you read or heard.) Ask them about their interests & refer in Client Fact Sheet. Building rapport and exchanging ideas and perspectives on current events, etc., helps to break boredom and adds enjoyment. Be Genuine: Eye contact, a smile & handshake make it easier for one "real" person to connect with another. Share yourself without giving it all away. Appropriate eye contact & gestures vary dramatically from one culture to another. In North America, power & interests is often conveyed with direct, sustained eye contact of 3 to 5 seconds. In America, initiate a firm handshake with both men & women. Listen to Ideas, Not Words: As the "celebrity" guest, people want to discover you as a person. For greatest balance as a communicator, practice the Expert/Student Technique: 60% expert, 40% student. Divide you speaking and listening time accordingly. To improve your listening skills: 1) assume there's value in what the person has to say and 2) search for one piece of information you can use later. Limit 5 Minutes per Person: Gauge your time to allow for meeting several groups of people. Have a short, 2-way conversation with four or five people within a half hour. Commment on the unusual or interesting. This makes short conversations more fulfilling and quick exits less troublesome. Move On: Your responsibility is to the entire group, not one or two individuals. Be gracious but firm. Have a special closing comment so you won't wonder how to politely say goodbye i.e. "See you in Atlanta." You can introduce or include someone on the edge of the group to the others who are there, then leave quietly. Business Cards & Follow Throughs: Collecting business cards is much more valuable than giving them. When you give a card, carry it in your most acccessible pocket (right side if right-handed). Keep cards you collect to build future business. Write an identifying note about the person, i.e., "big mustache," "birthday same as Sue's," and code for follow-up potential.