How to Schmooze

A good schmoozer shows genuine interest when talking to other people

Schmoozing may evoke images of sleazy sales people or insincere politicians, but schmoozing by another name is networking. Derived from the Yiddish word for chat or gossip, schmoozing is at once a learned skill and an art form. An effective schmoozer isn't just a talker, she's also someone who listens and learns about other people. Done well, schmoozing can help you widen your number of contacts and yield results in your professional and personal life.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Schmoozing requires that you get out of the house and meet other people. Practice as much as possible. The more you talk to people and the more you in engage in different groups or events the easier it will get. Every day is a chance to meet new people and build new relationships.

2. Remember people's names when you first meet them. Make a mental note, write them down or collect a business card. You may even develop a way of remembering a person's name by associating them with a color, for instance.

3. Listen and absorb what someone is saying to you. Show genuine interest by asking questions. Even though you may be interested in making new contacts to grow your business, hearing what someone else has to say and making the conversation about them is a great way to put people at ease and endear them to you.

4. When meeting someone for the first time, start off with general questions, such as where they're from and what they do. Use their answers to steer the conversation into areas of shared interest.

5. Be confident in relating your interests to others. Show genuine excitement and enthusiasm when you learn that the person you just met has a shared love of hip-hop or the opera.

6. Follow up after you meet someone new. Get their contact information and send them a short email within 48 hours of meeting them. Remind them how you met and include something you talked about and how much you enjoyed meeting them.

7. Carry your business cards with you at all times. Include standard information such as your title and contact information. Give them to people you meet.

8. Be upfront when you ask someone you've just met for a favor. Don't save the point of your phone call or letter to the last line -- this will make people feel manipulated.

Tips & Warnings

• Courtesy is essential. Never sacrifice politeness for a hard sell.

References

• NWJobs: Wouldn't You Like to Be a Schmoozer, too?