By: Jennifer Cohen

It’s that time of the year again where business starts to simultaneously speed up as it slows down for the holidays. While the workload may be slowing down, this is an ideal time to become laser-focused in both solidifying current business relationships while building new ones. This is the perfect time to rub elbows with your future boss, your next client, or to strengthen a relationship with a colleague. Navigating the holidays with purpose and intent can help to start your new year on the right foot.

Here’s how the most successful people take advantage of the holiday season.

1. Raise your Game. Holiday cards are fairly standard throughout most companies, but that’s a pretty generic way to show someone you’re thinking about them. Take it a step further and personalize your holiday cards for those that have been vital to your success. Spend the extra few minutes to reach out to those who you’d like to work more closely with in the coming year. It isn’t news that if you want something, you’ll need to put in the work for it, and that includes your relationships. If there’s one way to leave a lasting impression in someone, making them feel special and thought of is a sure fire way to do it.

2. Work the Room. Holiday parties are in full swing by this time of year, and while many people see them as a way to get free drinks and leave work early, don’t miss this opportunity to pave the way for your future. Building relationships is as much about keeping your old ones as it is creating new ones. Your goal should be to solidify current business relationships while opening the doors to new ones. Offer to grab your new acquaintance their favorite drink, have some conversation-starters in your back pocket so you don’t end up looking like a fool, and be prepared with a business card in case the conversation goes even better than expected.

3. Host a Cocktail Hour. A great way to boost new relationships with others is to host your own event. Planning a party is time-consuming, but hosting a cocktail hour at a local restaurant can be a great way to introduce new faces to your current group. Invite a variety of people including those that you know well and those that you’d like to get to know better. Encourage them to bring their colleagues and friends as well.

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