Customer Reviews

How to Work a Room, Revised Edition: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up this book hoping to get some tips on networking and building social connections. While it's a quick and easy book to read, I found that most of the tips are highly topline and essentially common sense. For example, her advice on coming up with topics to talk to people about? Read today's newspaper. The best opening line to use? Say "hi" or "hello". How to develop personal charm? Think of someone charming (eg George Clooney) and try to do what they would do. How should you prepare to work a room? Think about what you want to get out of it. You get the idea.

As another reviewer has commented, essentially this book is one long pep talk rather than a source of useful how-to advice. It's far too general and short on specifics - much like reading a magazine article. You may pick up the odd idea here and there, but I'm sure that better books exist on this topic. Incidentally, while the book claims that it is equally relevant for business and social situations, in fact most of the advice is very business focused.

This writer seems more interested in self promotion than teaching you anything all that amazing. There are constant references to other books that she has written (sorry, one was plenty), and in the appendix there are several pages devoted to listing all the organizations that have paid her to speak. Sure glad I am paying for a promotional brochure. Then there are all the silly trademarks. She actually trademarked the title of her book. How to Work a Room (tm). My personal favorite: converSENsations(tm). Yes, really. How about gimme a break (tm)?

Want a better book? Try the Art of Mingling.

Susan RoAne claims 93% of all people consider themselves shy. She says more people are afraid of entering a room of strangers than of public speaking. As someone who has always had trouble mingling, I found those two facts reassuring. Still, I was expecting lots of instruction, but be advised, this book is about 50% pep talk and 50% technique. Well worth reading, but may leave you feeling hungry for more.

I have always been an outgoing, gregarious person, but I picked up "How to Work a Room" at the bookstore when I had been in a slump, and I can honestly say that it has helped me make a change in my life.

Susan Roane's book collection may sometimes be criticized for being "basic", but when you aren't using the skills that she describes, like introducing yourself to strangers, and following up with new contacts, then you do need to brush up on your basics.

Sometimes you just need a reminder of how much power you have in your actions and personality, and Susan Roane's books give you just that.

RoAnn's book offers excellent points and solid advice. When she is on point, RoAnn can quote Miss Manners and in the same sentence show how you can leverage the situation to position your business. But all too often, RoAnn's target audience seems to be people who are either inexperienced in business or chronically shy.

For this latter audience, simple common sense substitutes for strategy. For example, read the newspaper to get interesting topics of conversation. Use opening lines like: Hello, I'm (your name here). Motivate yourself to attend networking events by writing down all the benefits you may get from attending.

RoAnn's biggest weakness shows in her incessant self-promotion of other books she has written. Perhaps if she wrote a more compelling book, readers would buy her other titles without her prompting.

Fabulous book that not only helps in business but also in every day life. If you ever get a chance to see the author in person at an event, go!

"How to Work a Room" is not a Dale Carnegie tome (all of which you should most definitely read if you're considering this book), but it nonetheless serves as a great introduction to "savvy socializing". Perhaps not surprisingly, the underling premise is almost identical to Carnegie's observations: there is no such thing as a "natural public speaker", or a "savvy socializer", these titles are achieved through hard work, preparation, and perseverance. As the author points out, 93% of us identify ourselves as shy, so stop worrying about your complexes, because everyone else has them too! Chances are, that slick socializer is as self conscious as everybody else in the room, but he or she has a purpose, a clear pitch, and a genuine interest (most of the time) in the other person - there is your formula.

The book offers a number of helpful suggestions for preparing yourself for a social event (both mentally and physically), how to behave (act as if you're the host), how to approach people (tailor a brief and pithy introduction), how to strike a conversation (smalltalk), and how to close and follow up. It's a fast read, and you won't regret it.

Inevitably the audio to accompany the movie on seat 6A did not work, so my understanding neighbor suggested that I really should read their copy of "How to Work a Room"... or perhaps this was a not so subtle message - no chatting during the movie!

Anyway, back to the book: entertaining, a quick and fun read. A few tips I took away from a book and subsequently tried out:
- how to exit when it's time to circulate
- aside from the key objective of attending an event, think about who else will be attending and plan some goals from interacting with these people
- never forget that the event should be enjoyable
- some elegant ways to extricate yourself from the disrespectful and offensive - fortunately I didn't get a chance to try these out

I struggle in social and business settings where I am required to meet people for the first time. The tips in this book helped me get over that and has helped me engage others as if we have been frends for years. This has lead to more productive and rewarding business relationships. I wish I read this book 10 years ago.

I had the pleasure of meeting Susan RoAne at a woman's business conference in Philadelphia. She is a fabulous speaker and a funny, down-to-earth lady in person. I have read half of the book so far, and I am loving every page. It is realistic advice that you can apply immediately to any type of social setting--personal or business. She adds her humor and personality in the book, which makes it fun to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to make the most of any social function.