‘Tis the season for festive socializing. While mixing business and pleasure can be taboo, you just have to go about it the right way to make it ok. To avoid being the pushy business person, focus on creating a positive impression and dropping a few motivating tips about what you do, instead of leading with a pitch. Whether you are going to a work party, a large group gathering, or a festive event, there is no excuse for not putting your best networking foot forward at these events. We are sharing our top three tips to help you make the best impression that will help to get conversations going where you can then lead people to a January follow up.
Stay Out of the Sauce
It is completely reasonable to have a few drinks while out at an event. But if you intend to do a little networking you don’t want to be the sloshed person slurring words and trying to promote your business. You have to remember that you are always representing yourself and your brand no matter where you are, which means you are always making an impression. It is hard to think about working with someone professionally who is a boozy close talker or a spillypants who slurs.
Slow Your Roll
Remember that the main goal of most Christmas and holiday parties is to relax and have fun. You don’t want to approach someone with your work guns blazing. Start slowly with small talk, find out information about them, ask questions and get a dialogue going. Once the conversation is on track then you can contribute with what you do, why you love it and how you got there. Be careful not to throw that sales pitch into your conversation though, as you want to inspire more than sell.
Have Goals, But Have Fun
Don’t approach holiday events with a laser focus of networking to source leads. Relax a little, enjoy the festivities, and slide business in when it makes sense. Give your self a small goal that can be achieved in just a short amount of time, allowing yourself to take in the rest of the night and have fun. While you want to have a strategy set (who do you want to talk to, what do you want to share, what connections are you seeking, etc) you don’t want to end up spending the whole night talking business and missing out on the mistletoe, eggnog, and cheer.
As we bring 2018 to a close, many people are reflecting on this year thinking about what they did well and what they could do better. Your business could be just the thing they need to help them ‘do better’ in 2019. Holiday parties are a great place for you to meet new people and talk with those you already know. If you want more tips on how to approach holiday networking, download our free resource, The Fempreneur’s Guide to Holiday Networking. It’s jam packed with tips to help you prepare and mingle like a pro.
