Is it time to kill the Network Schmooze?
Schmoozing is not a word with a good vibe. It’s best defined as talking to another person in a business or social situation in a not particularly genuine way and often with a manipulative twist. The sad fact is that this kind of networking and schmoozing have gone hand-in-hand for as long as name tags and business cards have been around.
You know how the typical network/schmooze fest goes down. You arrive at a networking event, someone manning a table checks your name off a list, hands you a name tag, (maybe a freebie drink ticket) and points you towards the door into the networking room. Now, you’re on your own. You tell yourself…Go meet someone…Talk to someone… Anyone… Just so you don’t stand there like a wallflower.
We know you are not an amateur at this, but do you still think…Is this just going to be too much work? How many schmoozing, small talk conversations am I going to have? I’d really like to meet some new people, have some interesting conversations, but it’s a crap shoot.
Is it time for organizers of networking events, regional and national meetings, conferences and internal events to start breaking this stale old networking model? Why not make networking events into comfortable learning experiences, where people share ideas, get different points of view, without the awkward circulating and schmoozing.
How about making your next “bringing people together event” a Roundtable Networking Event? Here’s how to do it:
- Set up round tables (maximum eight people).
- Assign each table an interesting topic to discuss.
- Get creative with the topics. There is lots to talk about these days! AI, tariffs, inflation just for a start.
- If the event you are hosting is internal such as at a national meeting, town hall or company retreat/conference you may want to make your topic industry specific or company specific.
- Send out invites or post event information and ask for an RSVP with a choice on a topic/table.
- Organize table hosts. Table hosts guide the conversation and make sure everyone gets to share their ideas.
- Then as part of the wrap-up, the table host will provide a synopsis of the discussion at the table to the group-at-large. Table hosts should encourage attendees to stay connected, even if it is just having everyone exchange business cards or contact info. A nice touch is to have table tents and pens so people can write down their names for the benefit of their tablemates. These are all ‘nudges’ that encourage engagement and connecting.
Leave time for people to connect with others before the hosts wrap up the evening. Some free-form networking is always good.
Yes, this kind of event takes more work than just opening the doors and letting people fend for themselves, but is it not time to rethink the network schmooze?
Who says we have to always network the traditional way? We are tired of it. Are you?
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Gayle Hallgren and Judy Thomson
Image at top: rawpixel.com
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