You're probably familiar with the necessity of networking in advancing your career. But how well you network often depends on how well you schmooze.

    你应该很清楚地知道关系网在推动你事业进步中的重要性。但是一般来说，你的关系网完美与否是由你的交际能力决定的。

    Successful schmoozing isn't glad-handing or insincere sucking up -- although expressing sincere admiration can be an important schmooze tactic. Instead, it's the grease that starts the wheels of networking.

    虽然真诚表达你的赞美是交际的重要手段，但是成功的交际并非指做作的热诚或虚假地拍马屁。让社交网络的车轮转起来的是那些能起到润滑作用的小细节。

    Schmoozing is nothing more than making casual, easygoing conversation with strangers, Networking is the art of the follow-up. When you have the schmoozing down, your networking can be effective.

    交际只不过是和陌生人进行随意、轻松的谈话。人际交往是后续维护的艺术。当你进入闲聊之后，你的交际就会很有效。

    But starting a casual conversation with a stranger -- especially when that stranger has the power to boost your career -- can be nerve-wracking for even the most outgoing people.

    但是即使是那些非常外向的人，对于要和一个陌生人开始一段随意的对话，尤其是和那些有权促进你事业的陌生人闲谈时，都会非常伤脑筋。

    Experts have some recommendations for making business schmoozing natural, enjoyable, and effortless （or at least appear that way）:

    关于怎样让商业闲谈更自然、更有趣、更有效，专家建议如下：

    1. Investigate.

    调查。

    Find out who in your profession or related profession could be good to know, and learn more about them. A good start is to find out if they have an online presence, such as social and professional networking sites.

    调查在你的专业领域或相关领域里有谁比较值得结交，然后了解他们的情况。一个良好的着手点是调查他们是否在社交网站或专业网站上活动。

    If you know they're going to be attending a professional event, find a way to attend. And if you learn that person shares an interest with you, say, a love of a sports team or hobby, that's great knowledge you can use to start a conversation.

    如果你得知他们即将参加一次专业活动，那就找个方法也参加。如果你得知那个人和你有某项相同的兴趣（比如说对某个体育队伍的热爱或共同的业余爱好）,那你就可以好好利用这些来打开话题了。

    2. Go beyond the usual suspects.

    超越常规的做法。

    Plenty of professionals want to meet the CEO, CIO, or C-whoever-can-help. But often those people are deluged with requests, are harder to approach, and may be too high up to advance your career.

    不少职场人士想认识CEO、CIO等，以及任何只要能帮得上忙的管理层。但是这些人经常都有很多预约、也很难接近，而且他们对提升你的职业来说可能还是太遥远了。

    Experts recommend schmoozing administrative assistants. They're the gatekeepers in most businesses and may have valuable information on the inner workings of the organization. But you always want to project professionalism and good etiquette when schmoozing administrative assistants.

    专家建议你应该去结交行政助理。在大多数公司他们都是守门人，并且对于公司内部组织的运作还能提供宝贵的经验。但是在你和行政助理打交道的时候，你要礼貌运用专业的闲谈方法。

    3. Schmooze well before you need something.

    在你提出需求之前先打好关系。

    If you want the other person to set you up with a job or a new business after a two-minute conversation, set your sights lower. You don't want to look desperate.

    如果你想要别人在交谈两分钟后就马上为你安排某份工作或某项业务，将你的眼光放低一点吧。你总不会想让别人觉得你迫不及待吧。

    Schmoozing should be a warm-up, establishing contact and making the person feel comfortable with you long before you ask for something. The time between initial schmooze and asking for what you really want could be up to six months.

    交际应该是一项热身活动、是培养感情以让他在你提出要求之前对你产生更多的好感。在你最初开始交往到你提出要求的时间间隔应该是六个月。

    4. Prepare a short self-introduction.

    准备好一小段自我介绍。

    Forget the 15-second "elevator speech" you've heard about. In less than nine seconds you should give the benefit of what you do, but not the title. If you say something like "I make sure people have a roof over their heads," it will arouse curiosityand encourage them to ask a question. It's also a good idea to link your self-introduction to the event.

    忘记你听说的那些15秒钟的电梯演讲，你应该在九秒之内介绍你工作能够带来的利益，而不仅仅是工作的头衔。如果你这样说"我保证别人有生存之地",那马上就会引起别人的好奇，促使他们向你提问。在你的自我介绍中加入实例也是个好方法。

    5. Focus on the other person.

    将谈话重点放在对方身上。

    Studies show that when you ask people questions about themselves, they come away from the conversation with a more favorable impression of you. Then again, don't play 20 questions. If they aren't interested in engaging at all, have a polite exit strategy and move on. And remember, if you are uncomfortable talking with strangers, your new contact may be just as uncomfortable.

    研究表明，在谈话中如果你向别人询问有关他们自己的事情，他们会马上对你有好感。再次提醒，不要问太多问题。如果他们根本没兴趣与你谈话，那就想一个礼貌的对策，然后离开。并且要记住，如果你对于和陌生人交谈感到不舒服，那么你的新朋友也会有同样不舒服的感觉。

    6. Stoke the ego, but don't suck up.

    赞美，但是不要奉承。

    It's a fine line between expressing admiration and being obsequious. If you want to give a compliment, whether it's on someone's shoes or their recently published article, try to be genuine and don't gush. If you're not sure how to use flattery well, practice with a friend who can give you feedback.

    在赞美和奉承之间有微妙的区别。不管你是要赞扬别人的新鞋子还是最近发表的文章，都要真情流露，而不要做作。如果你不知道如何才能很好的奉承别人，那就和一个能够给予你反馈意见的朋友先练习一下。

    Good schmoozing opens the possibility of future contact. If a conversation goes well, ask for a business card. If the other person doesn't want to be contacted, don't take it personally. If they provide their information, send a quick, conversational email two days later to remind them about your conversation.

    巧妙闲聊能够为你带来和他人成为朋友的可能性。如果一段谈话进展顺利，那就要一张对方的名片。如果别人不想和你联系，也不要介意。如果他们告诉了你自己的联系方式，那就在两天之后给他们发送一封简短的问候邮件，让他再次回忆起你们的谈话。

    Then you can ask politely for a small favor. You can say, 'I've been interested in learning more about X, and I would love to hear from you if you have some ideas.' A request like that is not big enough to put them on the defensive.

    然后你就可以礼貌的地他帮个小忙，你可以这样说"我最近对学习X很感兴趣，非常想听听您的高见。"这样的小请求是不会冒犯他们的。