A question or 2 to pose at holiday parties

Common practices: We want to be memorable, so we exchange business cards to be accessible. Yet we leave the holiday party with a stack of forgettable cards and still never really get to know the right people deeply enough.

Yes, there’s the occasional follow-ups. But c’mon, it’s holiday time and no one really has the time–we  have other parties to attend. And collections of more cards.

Why not shake things up at your next holiday networking party?

Smiling, greet someone warmly, ask their name (ok, that won’t shake them up), and then ask them:

drumroll……………..

“Why do you do what you do?”

{Followup question:} “And how do you do that?”

Now that will shake them up and you will both be more memorable.

Just be sure you have a cogent answer for the same questions because they will turn it around on you!

Make a point of re-meeting only the right people, firmly scheduled and make the time useful for both of you, but only request this session once you are impressed with the answer to that first question.

Seal it by requesting a LinkedIn connection after the first face-to-face meeting. 

Surround yourself with the right people. Move past the others.

Try this.