Nurturing a Ninja Team

At large client events that we host a couple of times a year, the team often congregates amongst themselves. How can I encourage my team to be welcoming hosts, mingle with the guests and generate new contacts and ideas?

The herd mentality - it's as old as humanity itself, and about as conducive to effective networking as an actual herd of sheep in the middle of the event. Fear not, my friend. I have a few stratagems up my sleeve for you.

Prepare for the event. You have the guest list, study it. If its a seated event, think about who you put together and see if you can orchestrate some powerful conversations. Get your team involved in this exercise, so they get to know who is attending.

If appropriate, set specific goals like introducing specific ideas or making purposeful introductions.

Role play with the team and practice ice breakers and tactics. I've even given live Masterclasses to Embassy staff for exactly this purpose - it worked wonders!

Kick off with a pre event pep talk for your team. Include a gentle reminder of the mission of the event - to connect, network, discover opportunities and ideas (not discuss last night's game or the office gossip in a corner).

Propose a challenge. For example, each team member should meet at least 3 new individuals and learn something interesting about them. If your team is competitive, you could even gamify it, but make sure they keep things professional and maintain the image of the firm. The prize? The satisfaction of a job well done... box of luxury chocolates or a bottle of something half decent, if you're feeling generous.

Prior to the event, you can also consider assigning each team member a specific role or zone. Some can be greeters, others could be conversation starters around key areas, like the bar or buffet. Whether you play their strengths or push their boundaries depends on the dynamics of the team.

If the prospect of working a room solo sends chills down their spines, give them wings! Teams of two can cover more ground and can tag-team conversations, reducing the intimidation factor. A good wing man or woman is worth their weight in gold.

People respond to recognition, so make it a point to acknowledge those who take the initiative to mix and mingle. Whether it's a shout-out in a team meeting or a nod in a company newsletter, make your team members the stars after the event.

These things get much easier with practice and encouragement and it gives you an opportunity to demonstrate great leadership qualities.

Finally, lead by example and show them how it's done. Your actions speak volumes, and they're watching. Your team will see you're not just talking the talk.

These are tried and tested techniques. By putting them to work, you're not just throwing them into the wild, you're arming them with a purpose, a mission.

Like well prepared Networking Ninjas.