Small talk for hosts: 6 tips

COMMUNICATION Conferences and events are a company's flagship. Even if a sophisticated supporting program and excellent buffet have been provided, this is not enough to make events a success in terms of communication. Often, hosts assume that communication at an event goes by itself. Thus, it is taken for granted that everyone talks animatedly to each other and that both the host and the employees take good care of the guests. However, this automatism does not always occur, especially since hosts and guests often have different ideas of what "taking good care of" or "having a good time" means. It therefore makes sense to take the communication aspect into account when planning the event.Six tips for a communicative eventSmall talk is the key to making events a success. After all, the focus of the event is not on technical discussions, but on small talk as a conversation at the relationship level. Small talk in the professional environment is not simply irrelevant chatter about banalities. It is often the prelude to Big Talk, i.e. to the actual technical discussion as well as to long-lasting business relationships and recommendations. Small talk is where you learn about your interlocutor's personal situation, creating opportunities to resume the conversation at a later time with initially subject-neutral topics. The following are the tips:1. briefing of the employees. They can help to actively establish contact with the guests by introducing different groups to each other and thus mixing them. In this way, everyone is sensitized to being open during the event.2. guest list discuss. Who knows whom? Who knows something about whom? A structured guest list simplifies the management of the guests.3. name tags use. In this way, guests recognize and find each other. This has the further advantage that guests have to report to the reception and important or new people are recognized.4. contact record. As a host, it is easier to actively approach individuals, as this is welcomed. A possible start could be the course of the event, such as how the lecture will begin or when the buffet will be opened. Perhaps the guest also has a question and the conversation is already underway.5. small talk is desired. Most guests don't want to spend hours talking about business. Therefore, everyday topics are the order of the day. Common ground should be sought and discussions about politics or deeper conversations rather avoided. As a host, it is also important to get in touch with each other and find out who should get to know whom.6. circulate is important. As a host, it is important not to stick to one group or person, because only those who circulate and take the one interlocutor with them promote the mixing of groups. Individuals should not be left alone in the process. These tips are from Ilona Quick's book "With Small Talk to Big Talk".