Networking Tips: Help Keep Yourself and Others Healthy
Networking can be awkward for everyone - yes, even for your Member Relations social butterflies, Cate and Scott! For that reason, we will offer basic networking tips every month to help you prepare for events, quell your anxieties, and learn to make the most of any networking opportunity.
Remember, it's all about building community and making connections that inspire deeper conversations!
Post updated March 16, 2020 11:52 a.m.
At the Boulder Chamber, we love hosting events that help you connect with professionals and leaders across the Boulder region.
We also believe in making our event attendees' health and safety a top priority. Even though we are not currently hosting events where large groups of people come into close contact with one another, we still encourage everyone to take thoughtful precautions out in the community.
In the spirit of supporting a healthy and vibrant community, we've compiled a list of health-conscious tips to keep in mind.
BEFORE THE EVENT
- Get adequate sleep. That can be difficult for busy professionals, but it's one of the best ways to support your immune system.
- Prioritize exercise and healthy eating, whatever that looks like for you. Again, you want to give your immune system every possible advantage over whatever it may face.
DURING THE EVENT
- Minimize physical contact with other attendees. If you're comfortable with trying something other than the standard handshake, try a friendly wave or fist-bump as a greeting instead.
- Carry hand sanitizer and use it periodically during the event.
- Even better, wash your hands (vigorously!) whenever possible, especially before and after drinking and eating.
- Speaking of eating... no double-dipping! Hopefully you already heed the advice touted on Seinfeld, but we'll reiterate it here just in case.
- Be mindful of partaking in communal snacks. If there are utensils available to scoop communal foods like fruit or nuts out of a bowl and onto your plate, please use them rather than grabbing a handful. If the food is kept in a bag, such as a bag of chips, gently pour them out of the bag rather than reaching in to snag a few.
- Don't touch your mouth, eyes, or nose - especially after touching a frequently-touched surface, like a table or door handle.
- Drink plenty of water. Adequate hydration is another important tool for supporting your immune system.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. If you don't have a tissue handy, sneeze or cough into your elbow rather than into your hands.
AFTER THE EVENT
- Wipe down any bags, wallets or purses you brought with you using a product-safe sanitizing cleanser. These items are frequently left on various surfaces, like tables and bathroom counters, that can transfer germs and bacteria.
- On that note, wipe down and sanitize your phone, as well.
- Monitor yourself for any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:
If you're feeling under-the-weather yourself, consider staying home - both to promote your own recovery and to help prevent other attendees from getting sick. We have 130+ events per year, so there are plenty more chances for you to connect with professionals from across the community!
Be well, Boulder.
We highly encourage our members to observe responsible business preparedness measures. We have collected the following resources to assist you in preparing yourself and your teams to respond effectively to changing circumstances in our community.
Need to brush up on a few other networking skills? Click here for the rest of the Boulder Chamber's Networking Tips series, and check out upcoming networking opportunities on our events calendar here.