Susan RoAne's DOs and DON'Ts for MERRY HOLIDAY MINGLING®

By Susan RoAne, The Mingling Maven®

DO...

• Schmooze, Don't Lose: Small talk leads to big talk.
• Focus Your Conversation on the Event: The season is the reason.
  So, bring your O.A.R. and start small with the items you have in common.

  Observe -- The venue, food or entertainment

  "What wonderful ambience! And, the food is fabulous."

  Ask -- The host or a guest

  "Do you have any special holiday travel plans?"

  Reveal -- Your ideas, thoughts, plans

  "My plans to be on the slopes for the holidays didn't pan out."

• Act Like A Host: Be interested; pay attention; listen.
• Treat Spouses/Guests (yours and theirs) With Respect: Introduce them with enthusiasm and include them with eye contact, comments and questions..
• Remember That Holiday Company Parties Are Still Business: Dress and act appropriately.

DON'T...

• Don't Drink Excessively. Free drinks have a cost.
• Don't Assume Everyone Celebrates Christmas. (And if you don't, be gracious about the error.)
• Don't Touch Inappropriately: keep hands (and lips) to yourself; "hand"le with care and caution.
• Don't forget to detach from the techie toys (cell phones, PDAs) and refrain from text messaging others when talking to people.
• Don't Kvetch, Whine, Ridicule, Compete, Correct, Interrogate or Brag.

Based on Susan's book How To Work A Room Harper Collins

©RoAne2008 May be reproduced with permission of the author.