5 Ways to Network Effectively (Not Awkwardly) At Your Company Holiday Party
It’s “company holiday party” season, which means… networking?
Actually, yes. That’s because your company’s holiday party is a fantastic opportunity to speak with executives you don’t interact with everyday. In fact, it may even be the only night in an entire year that you’re in the same room as somebody you’ve been wanting to meet, so don’t miss an easy opportunity to connect.
Here are five tips to network effectively—not awkwardly—at your company holiday party this year:
Don't get drunk: this sounds like common sense but you wouldn't believe some of the things I've seen at holiday parties over the years. The easiest way to make a positive impression at your holiday party is to avoid getting drunk. A glass of bubbly or two? Sure. You can be festive, just don’t get inebriated. You want to be remembered for a great conversation, not for having “too much fun.”
Make a short list of the folks you want to meet at the party: don't leave the networking up to chance. Make a shortlist of up to 3-5 people you want to speak with and check LinkedIn to see what they look like if you've never met them before. If you have a colleague or a manager who knows one of those executives, ask if they'll make an introduction. You probably won’t meet everyone, but you’ll have a better chance of making connections if you’re looking out for a few people you hope to meet. Also stay open to meeting people who aren’t on your “list.” The opportunity to mingle and organically meet new people is one of the benefits of the party’s informal format.
Make sure to introduce yourself: in trying to seamlessly slip into conversations, one of the most awkward things I regularly see at cocktail parties is people just joining a conversation without actually introducing themselves. When you do get a chance to meet the person you were hoping to speak with, make sure you briefly and properly introduce yourself. I recommend sharing your name, where you sit in the organization, and referencing any mutual connection you share, like a boss or mentor. For example, “Hi, I’m Randi Braun, one of the Directors on Jessica’s enterprise sales team. It’s great to meet you.” This helps them “place you” in the org, leading to a potentially more meaningful and more memorable conversation.
Ask an open-ended and forward-looking question to get the conversation going: this will spark a lively conversation vs. getting you a quick "yes or no" answer that can quickly end the conversation, such as “it’s a great party this year, right?” One of my favorite questions to ask this time of year is, “What are you most excited about as you look towards 2020?” They'll likely have something they're indeed excited about, which means they're more likely to stay engaged in a more meaningful conversation with you. Another easy conversation starter is asking about their vacation plans for the holidays. Something Major Pro Tip: asking questions that are open-ended and forward-looking are great ways to network in any setting, not just at your company holiday party.
Ask for a follow up… then actually follow up: odds are that if you use the 2020 question you'll spark a good conversation worth continuing. If that’s the case, formalize some next steps. Here’s the key in keeping things effective, not awkward, at the party: this should be done casually. For example, don’t whip out your phone and ask to compare calendars live. Instead, set up a plan to make a plan. For example, "That upcoming launch sounds exciting. I'd love to grab a coffee and hear more. Would you be up for getting together on the other side of the Holidays?" If they say yes, confirm the plan. For example, "Great. I'll shoot you an email on Monday to compare calendars." Then, make sure you actually follow up on the mutually agreed upon next steps. People get busy during the holidays, so do follow up but don't take it personally if you don't get an immediate response. If your email goes unanswered before Christmas, bump it to the top of their inbox after New Years with refreshed suggestions for that coffee date.
Most importantly, have fun and don’t overthink it. When it comes to your company holiday party, it’s all in the name: keep it professional, casual, and festive. Happy Holidays!
Randi Braun is a coach, consultant, speaker and the Founder of Something Major. Copyright, Randi Braun 2019.