Breaking Away: How to Escape Lizzie Boredom at a Networking Event
At any networking event we risk getting stuck talking to one individual who would keep us there all night, if we allow it. I will call this person Lizzie Boredom. If you spend too much time with her, you lose the benefits of having come to event in the first place. We need to move away from her as quickly as can be done politely. At all costs, we must get away before we are trapped into sitting next to her through the entire dinner that follows. Here are some ways to escape her:
The Old Standby
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Excuse me, Lizzie. I need to refresh my drink.
The Socially Connected
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Excuse me, Lizzie. I see someone who I have been trying to reach for a week and I must go talk to her.
The Desperate
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Excuse me, Lizzie. Before dinner starts, I simply must find a restroom.
The Devious
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Oh, John, come over here for a second. You should meet Lizzie Boredom. Lizzie, this is John.
John: It’s nice to meet you, Lizzie.
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Excuse me, you two. I see someone I must talk to.
The Deceptive
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You (after subtly punching the speed-dial number for your own cell-phone): Excuse me, Lizzie, but that’s a call I simply must take.
The Direct
Lizzie Boredom: Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
You: Well, Lizzie, I’ve enjoyed talking with you, but must circulate to see some other people before the evening is out. I look forward to seeing you again at the next of these gatherings.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:42 am
If you aim to maintain integrity in all aspects of your business and personal behavior, then there is only one option - The Direct.
January 20th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Kerry:
It is the one I usually use. Some of the others, like the programmed phone ring, were tongue-iin-cheak, though I have seen them used. Lacking tone of voice, the written word can impart more seriousness than intended. I should know by now to be more careful. Thanks for the reminder.
Your basic point, that we should behave with integrity, is, of course, correct. Still, I don’t see that The Old Standby or The Socially Connected lack integrity, assuming that the words spoken, which can be varied depending on context, are true. In social settings there is, I believe, room to deviate from the strict truth to avoid hurting feelings. So, if you wouldn’t feel a need to circulate if you were talking with a prospective client, then telling Lizzie you must do so is not strictly true. In that case, why does saying that you do, rather than pointing out that you are probably wasting each others time, have more integrity than saying you need to refresh your drink or make a call (absent the phoney inbound call)?
Ford Harding