Why the Christmas Season Presents the Best Business Networking Opportunities of the Year
For most people, the Christmas party season represents an opportunity to let our hair down and enjoy a release from a whole year of stress. You can drink too much, stuff your face with turkey and generally make a complete fool of yourself – usually at some else’s expense. But have you considered the merits of attending Christmas parties with a view to networking?
Christmas party season offers a fantastic networking opportunity for businesses. The chances are good that you will connect with people you rarely see any other time of the year, not to mention ex-colleagues and old business acquaintances. It is a great chance to say hello, catch up on their news, and forge a renewed connection that could benefit you in the future – and here’s how to do it.
Christmas Parties are a Gift
Christmas parties are a gift when it comes to networking. At no other time of the year do you get the opportunity to mingle with so many disparate people in one room, some of whom it will be highly advantageous for you to meet.
Continue the Conversation after the Party
Once you have made a connection with a potentially useful contact at a Christmas party, continue the conversation after the event. Drop them an email or give them a call to touch base, and if there is merit in meeting up for a more formal discussion, suggest a time and venue.
Carry Business Cards
It is always worth carrying a few business cards at Christmas parties. Handing out cards is not necessarily a good idea, but if a suitable opportunity arises or someone asks for your contact details, at least you will be prepared. The alternative is to give useful contacts your mobile number so they can give you a call the next day.
Work the Room
People watching is always entertaining, but being a wallflower is never going to help you make new contacts. Instead be sociable, affable, and approachable. Practice the art of small talk before you head off to important parties. Once there, talk to everyone you meet and try and make sure that your conversations are funny, memorable and entertaining so that people will find it easy to put a name to the face after the event.
Have Fun!
Christmas parties should never be about work. The idea is to have fun as well as do a bit of light networking. By all means have a few drinks and let your hair down, but do be careful not to make a fool of yourself, or any useful contacts you make will be doing their utmost to forget they met you after the event. venuesearchlondon.com makes it easy to book a fun, themed venue, so make the most of your party and have a ball – within reason.
Social media makes it easy to connect with people during the Christmas party season, but use this wisely and try not to be tagged in any embarrassing photos that appear online.
