everydaynetworker.com

Beware the Dreaded Liquor Monster

by Jennifer Gniadecki on May 4th, 2008

This post is for the drinkers and non-drinkers alike.

Many after-hours networking parties as well as convention networking offer copious amounts of free booze. This can be a good thing, because many networkers need a drink before they can wander into the masses and start talking business.

But one too many drinks and suddenly you’re spilling your life story, and you’re not networking anymore.

Liquor can loosen your boundaries, and if you’re not altogether aware of your boundaries in the first place, the line blurs even more quickly between appropriate and vastly inappropriate conversation topics. You’ll find yourself telling veritable strangers your life story, and you may even make the mistake of focusing on the grisly bits instead of your business achievements.

As a non-drinker, you also need to be aware of your boundaries. Don’t share more than you’re comfortable with because you assume the rosy-cheeked, inebriated person in front of you grinning will not remember whatever it is you’re going to say. Most people remember exactly what happens to them when they drink a little, and you don’t want to share your innermost secrets because you had a false sense of security.

On the bright side, a little self-awareness and a good pep talk before the event can keep you in bounds. If you know you don’t want to share the story about your aunt Myrtle shoving you down the stairs when you were eight years old, and you know you don’t want to share it, you won’t. But if you have spent a lot of time wishing someone could just understand why you’re in so much pain, deep in your soul, you’re going to spill that story and people are not going to want to talk to you again.

When you know yourself, your boundaries, and your goal is to respect your boundaries as well as the boundaries of others you’ll be fine.

Image Source cursedthing

Share This

Related Stories

• No related posts

POSTED IN: Convention Networking