Working a Room

"Do not give out business cards before a meeting begins.  It makes you look like a blackjack dealer."  This is one of the rules of working a room shared by Ross MacCammon in Works Well with Others: An Outsiders Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Critical Skills in Business That No One Ever Teaches You.  Some more of his rules...

• Look everyone in the eye.
• If there are fewer than six other people in the room, shake everyone's hand.  If there are more, shake approximately five hands and then nod amiably to the rest.
• At no time say, "Let's do this!"
• When people introduce themselves, say their names back to them... try to keep their names in your head.  Saying a person's name back to them 20 or 30 minutes after you've met them connotes graciousness and suggests respect and will endear you to them.
• Facetiming with Grandma does not suggest engagement in the matter at hand....  But it's the right thing to do and she really appreciates it.

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