Expect to meet new people? Anticipate reacquainting with others? Catching up with old friends?
Get a hold of the attendee list and earmark a few you want to meet and greet. Memorize their headshot so you can spot them in a crowd and approach them. Research how they describe themselves and their work on LinkedIn to see where you share alma maters, common threads, or mutual interests. Bringing these mutual factors into the conversation makes you more interesting, as you explore deeper connectivity. It’s not being creepy–it’s smart business conversation.
As part of that conversation, let them know your value proposition, not overselling, but being proud of what you bring to the proverbial table. Perhaps they need your services. Perhaps they know others who do. Perhaps they don’t realize it yet. Perhaps someone in the room will speak to them a bit later on and that makes you an immediate and available referral. No time like the present!
It’s a process. You have to work it:
10. Please continually nurture them as a valued connection to continue the growth of a budding relationship!
This can be enjoyable and a beneficial investment for you in your new colleague. It’s a process, in these ending days of the year and extends well into the new year. Make it part of your skillset.