Top 5 Ways To Work a Room

1. Network With Strategic Purpose
When you attend a networking event, take a client or coworker with you to “work the room.” This idiom means that you really are working, methodically moving around the room and introducing yourself to others, with a purpose in meeting new people that is business-related and strategic rather than social.

2. Take a Wingman With You
It is much easier and more fun to work a room with someone at your side as a wingman. A wingman stays at your side to introduce you to the right people and help you remember details such as names and personal information.

Patty once worked with a Congressman who loved to have her along at events as his wingman. His memory for names was very poor, but with Patty at his side to say, “Congressman, you remember John Doe from XYZ Organization,” he never had to worry about forgetting someone’s name.

It is the wingman’s responsibility to maneuver his “pilot” into the best position to take a shot at targeted industry and business opportunities. Your wingman should be ready to rescue you from pointless or potentially damaging encounters and swoop you away to something more promising.

3. Find Out About Other Attendees Beforehand
Before attending any event with your wingman, the two of you should know as much as you can about other attendees—names, photos, bios, positions and organizations—so you can target those whom you would like to meet and together plot a course of action.

If it isn’t possible to obtain a list of names ahead of time, scan the name tags when you first arrive. Ask people you already know at the event to introduce you to others. In this way, you will meet new people constantly under the most desirable of circumstances—that of trusted source.

Sometimes at an event or conference, you may scan the name tags, or obtain a list ahead of time, and see that there is someone in attendance that you would like to meet, but you have no wingman who already knows that person. In this instance, ask the host or the sponsors if they would be willing to introduce you to some of the people you don’t know. Usually they will make it their life’s mission to help you.

4. What To Do If You Have No Wingman
At some time or another you will attend a conference or event where you do not know a soul, or you will walk into a room and see only strangers because those people you know have yet to arrive. When this happens, look around for someone standing alone and approach them with, “I don’t know a soul here. Can I stand next to you and pretend I know you?” Only the rare misanthropist will spurn you.

5. Stay in Motion
After making conversation with this person—giving him your 30-second commercial and asking him about himself—suggest movement within the room by saying, “Let’s go get something to eat / drink,” or by saying, “Is there anyone here you would like to introduce me to?” Stay in motion.