PART EIGHT
How to Work a Part y
Like a Politician
Works a Room
The Politician’s Six-Point
Party Checklist
When invited to a party, most of us waft into a fluffy thought pro-
cess. Our random reverie goes something like this: “Hmm, this
could be fun. . . . Wonder if they’re going to serve food. . . . Hope
it’s good. . . . Might be some interesting people there. . . . Won-
der if my friend so ’n’ so is coming. . . . Golly, what should I wear?”
That’s not the way a politician thinks about a party, however.
While politicians, heavy-duty networkers, serious socializers, and
big winners in the business world are staring at the invitation, they
instinctively surf to a different channel. Before they RSVP with
“yes” or “no,” their brains craft journalistic campaign questions.
It’s the Six-Point Party Checklist. Who? When? What? Why?
Where? And How?
Let’s take them one by one.
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Copyright 2003 by Leil Lowndes. Click Here for Terms of Use.
Who Is Going to Be at
the Party?
More specifically, who will be there that I should meet? Serious
networkers calculate “Who must I meet for business? Who should
I meet for political or social reasons?” And, if single and search-
ing, “Who do I want to meet for possible love?”
If they don’t know who is going to be in attendance, they ask.
Politicians unabashedly telephone the host or hostess of the party
and ask, “Who’s coming?” As the party giver chats casually about
the guest list, politicians scribble the names of the people who
interest them, then resolve to meet each.
When Should I Arrive?
Politicians do not leave arrival time to whenever they finish get-
ting dressed. They don’t ask themselves, “Hmm, should I be fash-
ionably late?” They carefully calculate their estimated time of
arrival and estimated time of departure.
If the party is bulging with contacts, biggies get there early to
start hitting their marks as each arrives. VIPs frequently come early
to get their business done before party regulars who “hate to be
the first one there” start arriving. They are never embarrassed to
arrive early. After all, the only people who see them are other early
arrivals who are often heavy hitters like themselves.
Nor will you find politicians prowling around, the last to slink
out the door. Once they’ve accomplished what they set out to do,
they’re on their way to the next opportunity. If their agenda is
more social, they try to leave their departure time open and their
aprés-party schedule free. That way, if they make an important
new contact, they can stay around and talk with him. Or drive her
home. Or go somewhere else for coffee.
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How to Talk to Anyone
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