Written and published by Rachel Green.
Visit our website at http://www.rachelgreen.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe please go to the website or click here.
In this edition:
- Welcome and background news.
- Top tips on being an excellent host at a work social.
- More tips on successfully hosting an event.
- Special offer: F.R.E.E. CD set, two for the price of one: "Be a winner at dinner".
- Laugh your socks off.
1. Welcome.
I have recently been to two evening work functions. One was a highly successful networking event and product launch. The other was a cocktail party that I found, as a guest, distinctly uncomfortable. The differences between the two highlighted some of the essential steps needed to host a successful work function so that guests get the most out of them. How can you be a top rate host or hostess? Read on to the tips section to find out.
Welcome to all our new readers from around the world, including this fortnight from UK, Australia, Germany, Nigeria, USA and Canada. Welcome! Please tell your friends and colleagues about Confidence 4 U - that is the only way the tips can reach more people.
The winner this fortnight, of a free E-book from our range, is J Quinlan from the UK. If this is you, please contact us to claim your prize by Saturday 19th July 2008:
2. The TOP TIPS: How to be an excellent host at a work function.
Tip 1: Big name-badges are vital.
What is the purpose of giving participants name badges? It is to help the guests (and hosts) to read people's names. It would seem logical to me therefore that large names would be more helpful than small ones. When I say large names, I mean so large that they can be easily seen from a distance without anyone having to peer at a person's chest.
At one of my events the names were so small the organisation's name took up more space than the name itself. In fact there was 40 mm devoted to the organisation's name and logo and the guest's name was only 4 mm high. Honestly! Yet we all knew the name of the business we had come to. People like me had no idea who anyone was at the cocktail party and the name badges were of no help. There's a difference between something looking nice and professional and something being useful to the guests. When I host workshops or seminars, I aim to write the name so it's about 40mm high. Give guests large name badges.
Tip 2. Have informative name badges.
When guests do not know each other it makes it easier for them if there is extra information on the name badges as well as the guest's name.
At the cocktail party I went to the badges gave no extra information, just a name. They didn't say the person's business nor any association they belonged to, nor any information regarding their connection with the event. In contrast, the networking event included each guest's business name on the name badge.
Why does this matter? Because the purpose of being a host is to help the guests, in whatever way possible, to get to know each other and "break the ice". Knowing their business means a guest could say "What does Ecodesigns do?" or "I see you're from the Champions Company. What kind of work are you involved in?" Extra information makes it easier to have something to talk about.
Tip 3. Help guests know what will happen in advance.
If a guest is sent an invitation which only shows the start and finish times, they may build up false expectations of an event, or at the least be unsure about what to expect. A nervous or cautious guest is not the best guest! In contrast, if the invitation includes a programme, then all guests will have similar expectations, and confidence in what will happen. This in itself makes it easier to know what to talk to the other guests about. Don't leave your guests guessing. Inform them well in advance.
One of the two events I went to had a minute-by-minute programme prepared well in advance and this was made available to all people coming to the event. Extra copies of the programme were also available on the night, and a master of ceremonies conducted the night and told us what was happening each step of the way. Go out of your way to inform your guests of the agenda so they feel comfortable knowing what will happen and can plan accordingly. Do everything you can to inform your guests and make them feel at ease.
Tip 4. Have something happening EARLY in the event.
Have something happening quite quickly after guests arrive. When guests arrive who don't know each other, nor why they have been invited, it helps them if something happens early on. By this I mean do something to unite the guests, e.g. have someone welcome everyone, or have a speech, or in some way officially start the proceedings. I would suggest something happens after 15 minutes of mingling, for example.
Why is this important? For two reasons. First, it breaks up huddles that may have formed, thus making it easier for other people to break in and mingle. Second, it gives everyone in the room a common/shared experience that they can then talk about, e.g. "What did you make of the speech?" or "I really enjoyed that, what were your reactions?" and so on. By giving your guests a common experience early on you help facilitate their enjoyment of the event and the value of the event to them. Then you'll be remembered for the right reasons. Start early.
Tip 5. Have a host who introduces people.
If you're holding an event, make sure that you and your staff are there from the start, meeting people and helping them mingle. Have more than one person acting as hosts for the event. The role of these people is not just to say "Hello Rachel and welcome" but to talk to the guests about their day, or work, or life, whatever is relevant. It is also to help them meet other people.
The host's job is to always keep an eye open for people standing on their own and to help them mingle. It is not the host's duty to get so immersed in talking to one or two people, or a specific group, that they fail to pay attention to the other guests. Sorry hosts, you are to mingle and keep matching people up ... and keep mingling. Always have enough people hosting to ensure all guests are well looked after. It is rare to find this occurring in my experience. Even when there are plenty of hosts I have found they don't really know how to host well!
My experience with one of the events was that I was met at the door by someone whom I didn't know. He was friendly but formal and said, "Hello I'm Samuel from the company. Are you here for the cocktail party?" I said "Yes I am, hi I'm Rachel from ...." and he said "Please go inside." And that was the last time I was spoken to by anyone from the organisation except for the lady on the badge counter. There was no-one inside meeting guests or helping them meet and greet other guests. Have real live people acting as hosts to facilitate the successful mingling of guests.
3. More tips on successful hosting and conversations.
Each month new tips are placed on our page of Personal Development Tips and Articles.
There are several sets on for you to read. Click on the links to read three of the most relevant ones:
- Ten tips on being the perfect dinner party hostess.
- Ten tips on what NOT to do at networking functions.
- Ten tips on being the ideal dinner guest.
4. More ways to have success in your networking conversations.
Conversations are the key to any event at work or socially. Your ability to make easy and interesting conversations, whether you are the guest or the host, makes an enormous difference to your success. Being able to make engaging conversations improves your success in networking, becoming known, enjoying yourself, making business contacts and forming friendships.
"Be a winner at dinner" is the ultimate help on making small talk and conversations. If you've ever run out of things to say, got stuck with a boring person or missed out on meeting new people, then take hope!
These 3 CDs give you the essential keys to overcoming all these problems. Whether it's a cocktail party, business function, family celebration, networking event or social you'll learn how to make interesting conversations, talk easily to people, including strangers; and to exit politely. Never be lost for words again. Enjoy meeting new people and ooze with confidence in your conversations.
Click here for more details.
Click here to order.
Bonus: If you buy these CDs on the website no later than Saturday 19th July 2008, then you will receive a second copy of the CDs for F.R.E.E. worth $75. Give them to a friend and help them too.
To be eligible for the extra copy you must order through our On-line Book and CD store and click newsletter when it asks you where you heard about the CDs. Don't miss out - hurry as this offer closes, Saturday 19th July 2008. This offer is ONLY available to CONFIDENCE 4 U Readers.
5. Laugh your socks off.
Thanks to our Confidence 4 U reader Shaun Peter Kelly from the United Kingdom, for this fortnight's joke.
Football Final fever.
A man had 2 front row seats for the FA cup final, as he sits down, a man comes down and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him.
'No,' he says, 'The seat is empty.'
'This is incredible,' said the man. 'Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Cup Final, the biggest sporting event in the football world, and not use it?'
He says, 'Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first final we haven't
been together since we got married in 1970.'
'Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that. That's terrible. But couldn't you find someone else, a friend or relative, or even a neighbour to take the seat?'
The man shakes his head. 'No, they're all at the funeral.'
If you have some clean jokes we can use, please send your contributions to
May your parties, events and functions be a brilliant success. By the way I can facilitate your work networking function for you, we have a ball! If you are in Western Australia - give us a call.
With kindness,
Rachel.
Further information for you
Learn in your own time.
There are eight CD sets, a printed book and 5 Electronic books to help you, including the NEW! CD set on "CONFIDENCE for women at work," and the very popular E-book "How to be a brilliant master of ceremonies." Please order in our online book and CD store - we have a secure server: click here.
Subscribe now
Click here to subscribe - it's free!
Please note, material in this newsletter is copyrighted and remains the intellectual property of RachelGreen.Com Pty Ltd.
|
Disclaimer: The information in this magazine is of a general nature and may not suit everyone or every situation. While every care has been taken to ensure it is useful and appropriate, no responsibility can be taken for the results gained from its implementation.
Please seek individual professional guidance for any difficulties you may have with your confidence, relationships, conversations, events management, managing people, work, networking, communication or emotions. Thank you.
|
