Business Networking - 7 Tips to Keep Food from Sabotaging Your Networking

The networking season has begun. And if these events include cocktails and canap? you'll be caught in the same bind as everyone else. How do you network and eat and drink, all at the same time?

Here's the typical scenario. You approach someone who's shoveling food into his mouth, and he puts up his hand as if to stop you. He can't really talk right now.

Or you put out your hand to shake someone's hand. She is holding a cold drink, so she has to find a place to put the drink down. Then she wipes her hands on their pants or jacket and shakes hands, all the while apologizing for her cold, clammy hand. Not a pretty picture, is it?

Here are 7 tips to help you network well, and still enjoy the food!

1. Don't try to network and eat at the same time. Networking isn't about eating, it's about meeting people. That's why it's called net-work, not net-sit or net-eat. If you are hungry before the event, try to eat before you go.

2. If you don't have a chance to grab a bite before the event, when you arrive, find a place to sit down and eat some of the delicious food. Then get up and network.

3. If you still plan to eat and talk, here's how to do it. Choose foods that are easy to eat, like baby carrots or cheese and crackers. Warning: Don't pick up that cherry tomato. It's likely to squirt tomato juice on the person in front of you.

4. Always keep a napkin in your left hand, so you can wipe your fingers after you eat something. And always keep your right hand ready to shake hands.

5. Avoid anything greasy or sticky, such as fried chicken wings. Be careful of very hot canap?that can burst open or fall apart in your fingers.

6. Hold cold beverages in your left hand, so your right hand is always ready to shake hands. Hold your wine glass by the stem in your left hand as well.

7. To hold both a plate and a drink, use the Layering Technique. Here's how it goes. Hold a small plate in your left hand. Put your wine glass on the plate and anchor it with your thumb. Put a napkin under the plate and hold it there. Every time you eat, wipe your fingers on your napkin. Voila! Now you can add finger food to your plate, and still keep your right hand available for shaking.

There's much more to successful networking that just eating and drinking. You have to know how to approach people, how to introduce yourself, and how to follow up.

You are invited to find out how to network for fun and profit, at http://www.ImpressforSuccess.com/howto.html

You're also invited to receive a free report: "Breakthrough Communication Skills" packed with powerful tips for business success, at http://www.ImpressforSuccess.com when you join my Communication Capsules newsletter.

From Lynda Goldman, author of How to Make a Million Dollar First Impression