Party Personality!

So, you’ve already RSVP’d indicating that you plan to attend this year’s office holiday event. You’ve selected the perfect outfit. You’re almost ready to go. Just remember, before you set off for the big event, you still have some important prep work to do. Most importantly, you want to prepare to carry on engaging conversations.  

You too will be viewed as an interesting party personality if you work on these techniques:

1.  Become interested in the world. Read everything you can beforehand, including lots of low-brow and high-brow stuff. Become able to intelligently discuss the perils of Brad, Angelina, and Jen, the challenges facing UCLA and Texas, as well as world news.

2.   Practice. Between now and the time of your office party, every time you find yourself standing in line, talk to the person next to you. Initiate the conversation by asking a question or two. By the length of the second response, you’ll know whether the other person wants to continue the conversation.

3.   Perfect the open-ended question. Arrive at the party with a handful of open-ended questions like: What do you have planned for the weekend? I hear you traveled to Italy this year. What did you like best about your trip? I understand you just became a new Mom/Dad. How’s it going?

4.   Work at listening. The more you actively listen to others, the more likely others will continue talking. Active listening requires you to demonstrate that you are truly “hearing” the other person. This means you should nod your assent now and then. Or you can provide verbal cues that encourage the other person to continue, for example, say “And then what happened?”

Related Things You Need to Know

Networking During a Pandemic

Covid-19 has made networking easier, faster and less expensive.  It’s ever so much easier to network during a time period in which many people are desperate for human connections.  It’s certainly faster when attending an event simply requires clicking a link to a video conference room.  And even a cash-strapped student can afford to pull off a virtual cocktail party since all he or she requires is an internet connection, a few nibbles and beverage for one.  To succeed, you just need to understand the new rules of engagement.

Always Follow Up

After a networking event, transform new contacts into valued members of your network by following up.

Holiday Networking

Use the holiday season to build your professional networks.

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