Skip to main content

Schmoozing


In the business world people often talk about schmoozing and making sure you are saying the right things to the right people. However did you know that schmoozing actually carries a negative definition? According to Merriam Webster the definition is "to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections". You might be saying that doesn't sound too negative? If you read the words closely you see that you are chatting with someone in a manner that is persuasive to gain favor. This means that the person schmoozing really doesn’t care about the person they are speaking to. All they are caring is that they can be nice enough to the person to convince them to do something for them. 

This is a sure sign of selfish leadership. The person is schmoozing just to gain something for themselves. They aren’t really interested in being friendly or helping the other person they are only interested in what that person can do for them. 

Selfish leadership is truly poor leadership because it isn’t about the leader it is about the people you are leading. Schmoozing will get you nowhere as a leader because eventually people will realize the game you are playing and will be unwilling to work with you or speak with you. 

If you really want to talk to someone and gain something from them be sincere in your dealing with them. Stop feigning empathy and start treating people like people and show them true empathy when you talk to them. If you do this they will more than likely be your friend for life and will want to deal with you from a business perspective.  

Stop schmoozing and start caring.  
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where Have I Been?

 The title of this article is apropos since I haven't blogged in almost 12 years. I plan to start this blog up again and try to blog on a consistent basis. I will also be broadening the topics that I write about. Be sure to subscribe so you can get notifications about when I post. So what have I been up to since that October day in 2013 when I made my last blog? Let me recap for you. When that post happened I was in the middle of my Toastmaster journey and I'm happy to say that I crossed the Toastmaster finish line by earning my DTM. I didn't continue in Toastmasters after that since I changed jobs and took my leadership skills to Mathnasium and started running a Mathnasium in Blaine MN in 2016. I got the opportunity to blend my education degree with my MBA and use it as the Director of the Mathnasium in Blaine. I also had the opportunity to be the director at one in St Louis Park and one in  Andover. I ran these until 2023 when I decided to go back into the classroom and t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Team of Rivals

 Today I'm going to give you a book review. My favorite books to read are non-fiction books about baseball seasons, baseball players, presidents, or history. The book I'm currently reading and almost done with is "Team Of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin published in 2005. This book is 754 pages and I have 23 pages left so I think I can give you a good indication about the book. This book is really a retelling of the political career and presidency of Abraham Lincoln as told through extensive research into diaries and memoirs of those who worked closely with Lincoln. I have really enjoyed this book and the writing of Kearns. She is able to piece together all of her information about Lincoln's presidency and life during that time. She gives us up close narratives of the behind the scenes at the White House and his cabinet especially during the civil war. More often than not Presidents will give cabinet spots to friends. This book shows that Lincoln surrounded himsel...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Audience

Any time you give a presentation it is not only the presentation that is important but the audience may be just as important. It is the audience that you are selling your idea to and presenting the information to as well. It is important to make sure you are meeting the needs of your audience. In that regard you need to understand the types of people that could make up your audience. We are looking at the concept of SOW and REAP. The SOW portion was the presentation itself and it included Substance, Ownership and WOW Factor. The REAP is the audience, starting Monday I will address what the R stands for. First lets look at the principle of sowing and reaping. The idea is that whatever you sow that you will also reap. If you plant corn you should reap corn. In our little scenario if you plant a quality presentation with great ideas you should be able to reap success. If you present a bland and boring presentation your will probably put your audience to sleep and your idea and present...
Post a Comment
Read more