Against my will I was recently dragged to a holiday business social. Well okay, perhaps I was a little willing to partake in local business merriment. I really do enjoy meeting new people and chatting it up with ones I know in a relaxed setting, it is the ‘Bob’s” of Holiday Mixers that unglue me.
What About Bob?
I’m quite certain we all know a “Bob” or two, “Bob” is the person who can’t relax and engage in social non – buisness conversation. Your stood with Jane, Mike and Sandy talking about those tastey crap role ups and the recipe and here comes “Bob” with his barging interruptus right flank. “Bob” is shaking hands and passing everyone a brochure and repeatng his name and business while pointing to his new groovy flashing name tag. “Bob” then does a disappearing act, only seen from a distance launching his strategy on another group.
The other concerning facet to the “Bob’s” in social situations, is the crude remarks that disembowel any competitor. Ask “Bob” how his product/service differs from “Jim’s” (who is stood over down the hall entertaining party goers with slight of hand tricks) “Bob” will respond harshly and remark how unprofessional his competitor is.
Acknowledge Thy Competitor
Myself once in a esteemed titled position with an agency found myself in the CEO’s office having my ear bent over for saying nice things about our competitor. I even took the steps to meet with the competitors COO to mull over some issues pertaining to our two companies working together on a local COC project. I had to verbally slap up my boss and point out that in social situations it was better to be graceful then toxicily garrulous. The CEO eventually came around and loosened back my leash.
Mayhem Method Minute: What’s true at cocktail parties is also true in marketing, KB says “If you want to be boring, talk about yourself. If you want to be interesting, talk about something other than yourself.”
