Even after a long day at the office, who among us has
not had to put on a party face and go out to an evening party as part of our job? The next time you are
asked to work a room as part of your employment remember these tips:
Remember
why you are going
Your job is not to come home with a check, but rather to have made a good impression. You want
to be remembered so that prospective donors will return your phone call or answer you email. From there
you can cultivate and grow them into donor status.
Set reasonable goals for
yourself at the party
You can’t meet everyone in attendance. How about trying for six meaningful
contacts? Set a goal of six business cards (or confirmed coordinates) for six people. Even
better, try to get six good reasons to follow up, one for each new contact.
Prepare to be witty and engaging
Before
the party, if even in the parking lot before you head in, think up a couple of things to talk about…anything but the
weather. If you find yourself talking about the weather at a party (unless there is a hurricane off the coast)
you are not doing your homework. Check the day’s newspaper if you have to, but have something interesting
to say. Do not bring a bad attitude into the party from work. You want to be seen as being
an interesting person to talk with aside from your day job. Nobody likes an aggressive salesman or a work-a-holic.
Loosen up. Talk about your hidden life, your hobbies, or uplifting issues of community-wide interest.
Break the ice with a smile, an extended hand for a handshake,
and a question
Once you get eye contact with a prospective new friend, ask for help…as in “Have you
seen the host/hostess?” Or “How are/Where did you get those shrimp?” Or “I could not help but notice
your earrings, where did you get them?” At a party people want to meet others, help them by starting
the conversation for them.
Seek ways to encourage others to
talk
Once you get people talking about themselves and their interests, they will eventually ask you about what
you do…and surprisingly they will listen. Do them a favor by letting them talk first.
Watch your airtime
If you are talking too
much or too long…stop. Remember that everyone goes to the party to meet other people. Do
not dominate the conversation or trap your new friend in a lengthy conversation. Keep moving. You
are not going to get those six new contacts any other way.
