Top 10 Tips for Working in a Room Like a Champion
Whether you’re heading to a boring holiday party in your office or your weird neighbor’s lunch, parties – which should be fun – come with all sorts of awkward moments and stressors. Here are 10 ways to work like a champion in this room.
10. Enter with confidence.
It all starts the moment you enter the room. Even if no one is watching you, expressing confidence will give you confidence , which will give you good support for the rest of the night. Sometimes confidence is a pretend-until-you-succeed game. So dress as best you can , strike a powerful pose, and enter the room with the thought that you are about to throw a party.
9. Make a plan
No matter what party or meeting you are attending, set a goal when traveling, even if that goal is “drink a lot of beer and dance all night long.” Or maybe you are at a corporate party and want to advance your career by meeting people from other departments. Maybe your goal is both . In any case, if you know why you are going, you will be better off.
8. Choose your battles
Part of the plan is knowing that you don’t have to go to every party, and you shouldn’t get discouraged by turning down random invitations, especially if you’re more prone to the introverted side of things . If you are tired of communication, it will be clear to others that you do not want to be there. So skip it! Sure, there are events you should probably go to no matter what (such as important socializing opportunities or close family events), but don’t take on more than you can handle. It will not benefit you or anyone else.
7. Look for couples of people.
The parties are full of people you don’t know, and most of us have a hard time striking up casual conversations. But if you want to meet new people, you have to make a name for yourself. Here’s a simple trick: look for pairs of people . Most likely, they consist of two people who have come together and are ready to chat, or two people who have just met and will be glad if another person joins the conversation. It’s easier than joining a large group, and less intimidating than talking to someone else who is alone.
6. Shake your hand firmly.
It sounds silly, but a good handshake can go a long way. This shows that you are friendly, interested, and projects a little more of the confidence we talked about earlier. So hold the drink in your left hand to keep your right hand free and dry, maintain eye contact, and master the art of a firm, winning handshake .
5. Remember people’s names
If your brain is in any way useless, like mine, this is the hardest part of meeting someone new: his name sounds in one ear and crashes in the other. By the time you need to say something to them, you have already forgotten their name. Don’t be discouraged – there is a lot going on in your brain that causes this – but there are a few things you can do to avoid it as well . When they introduce themselves, tell them your name in response: “Nice to meet you, Sasha.” If their name is unusual, ask them to pronounce or spell it for you – even if you think you got it right the first time, it will help you remember it later. And try using their name a few times in conversation to keep it in your head.
4. Pay attention to your body language.
The first impression of you develops pretty quickly , which means that every little thing matters. If you are nervous or close off from your body, you may appear indifferent, even if you are not. Try to take a more open position (rather than, say, crossing your arms), looking in the eyes, and smiling. If you tend to think too much about yourself, try mirroring their body language, or just pretend you’re talking to a good friend . You will immediately open up and seem more interested.
3. Turn small talk into conversation
If there is one social interaction that everyone fears, it is the “small talk” that occurs when you first meet someone. We can only talk about the weather for a long time. But with the right attitude, you can turn small talk into real conversation : Share the little details and ask questions until something snaps in, then expand on that common ground. Prepare several topics for discussion ( the FORD method can help here ) and answer more specifically. If someone asks what you do for fun, tell a story about what you did, rather than just list the activities. Finally, remember that small talk isn’t meant to be overly meaningful – it’s essentially about making connections . We have to start somewhere!
2. Listen
Most people confuse a good job interview with speaking skills. The true sign of a good conversationalist is listening to the other person and participating in the conversation, rather than waiting in line to speak. This is one of the most common conversation mistakes you can avoid, and once you do, you’ll likely find that people really want to talk to you.
1. It’s okay if it’s a little awkward.
Finally, remember that this is not a panacea for social awkwardness. Meeting new people and getting into new situations always comes with some vulnerability, and it’s okay to show it – everyone else feels it too (albeit at different levels). Remember, you are not being noticed and there are many more awkward people than you . Have fun and don’t worry about the little things.