How To Network & Socialize Effectively: A Comprehensive Guide
by Antonio Centeno
This post is brought to you by Chivas Brotherhood What’s this? Last month I was invited to attend a whisky-tasting event in Chicago hosted by Chivas Regal. As part of their Chivas Brotherhood, they have an 1801 Club in which members get access to exclusive, invite-only events at private venues in major US cities. I had the privilege of checking one out and hob knobbing with a bunch of folks I had never met before. Now, despite the fact I write about style and own a custom clothier, I rarely go out and socialize. Being a father of three young children and living in a small Wisconsin town…well, it just doesn’t happen. To put it bluntly – I really had to prepare for this! This article is based off my experience and lays out the steps I took to ensure my time spent out on the town was worthwhile. Here’s the scenario: You’re in a large city, heading to an upscale evening social event. You’re attending the event alone, and you know no one prior to arriving. There is alcohol being served, yet you will be speaking with people about business opportunities. This is my advice on how to prepare for a night of networking and socializing, and how to make the most of this opportunity. In order to bring all the information together in one place, and create a comprehensive guide, I’ve included new information we haven’t covered before, a review of some important things that we have, and links to past articles for those who want more details on a specific subject. Hope you find it helpful. Before You Go: Basic LogisticsAny Boy Scout knows you should always be prepared. That goes double when you’re traveling. It’s not just a sensible safety precaution, it’s also part of your good impression — being able to show up on time, get yourself back safely, and even provide directions or a ride if someone else needs it. This immediately makes you look like the guy everyone wants to know. With that in mind, here are some basic steps to review before you depart: 1. Know Where You’re Going This one should be fairly obvious, but know where you’re meeting people. With Google maps, there is no excuse for not quickly verifying the address you have and calling the establishment to ensure they are where they say they are and are open when you plan to arrive. You do not want to arrive at the event 10 minutes early only to find you mistakenly wrote down the wrong address and now have to travel back across town.
The address is the starting point, and here are a few other details you may need to know depending on what sort of event you’re attending:
If you think the event will wrap up reasonably early and there’s a chance you might want to continue socializing afterward, also check for other venues like restaurants and bars in the immediate vicinity. There’s a lot of power in being able to say, “Well, if we want to keep talking about this over drinks, I know a decent little bar around the corner.” 2. Know How You’re Getting Home This is almost as important as getting there — and can be harder, since options tend to dwindle as the night wears on. Have a plan for getting yourself back to wherever you’re staying, and have a plan with some flexibility in case the night takes an unexpected turn. It’s good to have as many resources on hand as possible:
A little preparation goes a long way here, and smartphones make it even easier (as long as you can get service). Be sure to have both the city’s public transit schedule or map and the number of a cab company at bare minimum. It’s rare that you won’t be able to get yourself around using those in a pinch. 3. Know the Environment Both the physical and the social environment are important here. Both help determine how you’ll dress and how you’ll travel. In New York, wearing a stylish suit and taking the subway makes total sense. In Denver the suit is overkill and you can probably walk everywhere, at least downtown. In Los Angeles, you won’t wear a tie, and you’ll probably have to drive. And so on.
There are three basic factors to consider when traveling to a new city:
All of these are common-sense decisions that you make before you go. But they’re decisions that make a big difference in how natural and comfortable you look when you arrive at your event. Networking Preparation: How to Be Ready for SuccessMaking a good impression is nine-tenths being ready to make a good impression. The rest is just acting natural. You want to show up to any kind of social event (even one that isn’t specifically billed as a networking or meet-and-greet event) with the basic supplies and preparations that will make a good impression and get your contact information out there: 1. Know Who Will Be There Have as good a sense of the guest list as you can. Check to see who is on the e-mails or website or just ask around if it’s a more casual, word-of-mouth affair. Once you know who is going to be there, do some research if you don’t know them all that well. You’ll want to know who is representing what companies, and what that company has been in the news for lately — people are always very impressed when you can say, “I saw your latest project in the news last month,” or something to that effect. For my Chicago whisky-tasting event – I managed to get an early look at who the evening’s special guests were. Turns out one of my favorite men’s style authors, Tom Julian, was going to be in attendance. I had reviewed one of his books over a year ago, and pulled up the thank you he had sent me and sent him a quick message just mentioning I would be in attendance. Sure enough, we ran into each other and were able to meet in person. See the picture below for proof! A good sense of the guest list gives you the ability to plan your small talk. Know what’s going to be of interest to the other people there, and plan on saying it. For a refresher on networking in general – make sure to visit this classic Art of Manliness article. 2. Carry Business Cards — Plenty of Them Bring more than you think you’ll need. The only thing worse than not having a card at all is saying, “Here, let me give you my card,” and then coming up empty-handed. Most men’s wallets can only accommodate five or ten spare business cards before the pockets start to get a little stretched, so don’t be shy about keeping an extra stack in an inside jacket pocket. Or, slip them in a small, silver card case or cigarette case, giving you a small, classy touch every time you reach for a card.
Have a business card that suits your professional needs:
Of course, men in specific industries may need something fancier — if you’re a graphic designer, you may want to use a card you’ve designed as an example of your work. Just be aware that it’s easy to cross the line from “unique” into “novelty,” and that the latter isn’t impressive. No need for business cards? Consider calling cards instead. 3. Carry a Pen. In Fact, Carry Two. Asking to borrow a pen is automatically unprofessional. Carry two, either in the inside breast pocket of a jacket if you’re wearing one, or in the side pocket of your trousers. Go ahead and slip them all the way in, especially if you’re keeping them in an outer pocket — the clips on the side of the cap shouldn’t be visible outside your pocket. It’s not necessary to spring for a $100 fountain pen (though if you have something like a Montblanc, go ahead and make use of it!), but avoid carrying anything that’s obviously cheap, like a bendy, plastic Bic or a hotel freebie. You can get away with plastic, but it should be plain, dark plastic without any obvious logos on it. Ideally, shell out for metal-cased ballpoints at the very least. You can get them from office supply stores for under $20, or you can buy a nicer one from a brand like Fischer online, and the difference they make in your first impression is significant. You carry two, obviously, in case one runs out of ink (or gets misplaced). Again, it’s all about avoiding awkward moments. Similarly, keep them tip-down in your pocket if they’re ballpoints (unless it’s a space pen, of course) so that you don’t have to make a bunch of little circles to get the ink flowing before you write. 4. Silence Your Cell Phone — And Check It in Private Cell phone etiquette is not an esoteric question anymore. Almost everyone has one, and you don’t want to be seen as being “one of those cell phone guys” who is always flicking away at the iPhone screen.
There’s nothing wrong with using the phone if you have to, so long as you do it discreetly — just limit yourself to actual needs. Unless you’re counted on for round-the-clock instant access, letting your texts and e-mails go unanswered for a few hours should not be the end of the world. Personal Presentation: How to Dress and Behave for SuccessThere are whole books written on dressing for business and for social occasions, but it all comes down to a couple basic principles: looking neat, looking appropriate for the occasion, and behaving politely. 1. Look Neat “Neat” is a deliberately broad term here. It means that no matter what standard of dress you’re at or what culture you’re in, you look well put-together and like you’ve paid attention to details. This is fairly easy to achieve, whether you’re wearing a suit and tie or just jeans and a work shirt. It’s more a matter of avoiding obvious mistakes than doing any extra steps:
These are minor details that make a major difference. Putting them all together is what gives you the sharp-edged, clean-cut look that a lot of men lack in their day-to-day lives. It’s a way of looking good that doesn’t show off or try too hard, and gives you the air of casual competence and confidence you need to network well.
November 17 2012 Copyright © 2012 The Art of Manliness
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