Art of the Schmooze

To schedule please email with “Speaker Request” in the subject line.

Art of the Schmooze: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking
A highly interactive session focused on increasing relationship-building skills

Career progression often depends on fostering a strong and supportive professional network, but do you feel awkward at networking events and uncomfortable making new connections? Attend this engaging session to learn tips and tricks that will help introverts and extroverts work a room, from having the right tools to knowing the best approach to engage prospective colleagues and collaborators. No matter your role, you will benefit from being more strategic, effective, and inclusive while building great relationships. Our presenter, Robbie Samuels, believes that your impact on the world is directly related to your willingness to engage your community. Through this session, he will show you how.

At the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Employ strategy and selectivity when choosing which events to attend
  2. Identify how to take advantage of small networking opportunities at events
  3. Shift their mindset around relationship building to begin to notice opportunities in everyday life
  4. Adapt body language to increase approachability and ease of navigation in the room
  5. Apply graceful exit strategies that continue to build relationships

Art of the Schmooze is my signature session and since 2009 has helped thousands of people gain the confidence they need to pursue their personal and professional goals – from the importance of shaking hands and making eye contact to tips on the best opening line and how to exit a conversation gracefully.

An amazing side benefit is that every participant also walks away with their consciousness raised about what it means to create a more welcoming event.  We'll discuss the difference between being a guest and having a host mindset, keeping an eye out for outliers and the importance of not “othering” while trying to pay a compliment.

The focus is increasing relationship-building skills and becoming more effective and strategic when networking. I take care to provide content that assists those who are shy and/or introverted about how to be more present in the room, as well as educate those who are outgoing and/or extroverted about how they can help others feel welcomed.

My standard fee includes 50 unsigned copies of my best-selling business book “Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences” which comes with a free audiobook as well.  Additional copies may be purchased in bulk at a reduced fee. (It reached #1 in 3 Amazon categories, 2500 downloads in the first few days, and 150 reviews worldwide in the first week – now nearly 200 reviews.) “Bagels” are those tight networking circles that are impossible to break into and “croissants” are what is created when one person in the circle makes space for others to join.

The length of the session is negotiable, but my standard presentation is set in a 2-hour timeframe.  Some organizations have scheduled this right before a networking luncheon, coffee break or reception, so there is a purpose to the “practice” time that follows the session.
All participants have the opportunity to schedule a complimentary 20-minute follow-up phone call.
I don't require PowerPoint or a flipchart. If over 40 people I'd prefer a lavalier microphone if that is possible, but a handheld would be fine.
My “one pager” is an easy place to find a selection of photos and my bio: www.robbiesamuels.com/profile.
Testimonials are available.
I've been interviewed numerous times about my work: Podcast Guest Appearances.

Read related blog entries:
“8 Steps for Successful Networking”

“Croissants vs. Bagels”

“The Downside to Being a Unicorn”

 

To schedule please email with “Speaker Request” in the subject line.

Click to receive 8 Steps for Successful Networking as a PDF