For the most part, I believe that most people are good and truly interested in meeting new people and making new connections when they go out to social events. Then, there are the occasional asses that you meet who are clearly only interested in promoting there self interests, everyone else be damned and rudeness prevails. I happened to encounter one of those people the other night.
True Story
I attended Tech Cocktail this past Thursday and I had a great time. I met some new people and made a few new connections with people I follow, but, never met, on Twitter. She who shall remain nameless was one of them.
I currently serve on the board of two great organizations, Art Creates Life and Heads Up in DC. I was interested in approaching this woman-about-town to help me with throwing a fundraiser. I was a potential client.
So what happened? I was talking with a someone I had just met. We were in the middle of a conversation and just about to exchange business cards. Out of the blue, she extended her arm across my face and the face of my conversational partner to touch the should of someone who was walking by. Then she proceeded to insert herself between the two of us and strike up a conversation with her intended target. My convo partner looked at her and looked at each other in disbelief because she never acknowledged our presence.
After she moved on, we decided to continue our conversation and exchange contact information. I then proceed to seek out someone else to help me with my project. I am better off any way without her. Also, when I got home I also tossed her card which I had received earlier from someone else and unfollow her. Petty, I know, but I don’t take too kindly to obviously rude slights.
The Rules
- Be nice to everyone. You never know where your next client or employer will come from.
- Say “Excuse Me.”
- Don’t make assumptions about the people that you meet, you never know who knows whom. Remember six degrees of separation has been scientifically proven.
- Be real online and offline. You will be found out and it will not be pretty.
- If you or someone you needs help, read Social Intelligence: The New Science of Success.
If you see me being rude, please call me out.