Going to a networking activity, meeting or party isn’t enough—you have to actually learn how to behave and “work” the room in order to make the most of the opportunity. I am not talking about the schmoozy, speedy roaming from cluster to cluster that many people think of when they hear the term “working” the room—but you do have to actually move inside the circle in order to make the most of the gathering.
Often, people who are uncomfortable or new to networking hang around by the food or beverages, or wander the edges of the room (looking at the art, etc.)—in order to really get talking with other people, you have to push beyond that outer perimeter and get inside where the conversations are. The hardest part, really, is moving into that “inner circle”—once you do, you will most likely be included in conversations and have an opportunity to meet the people who are standing all around you. Since conversations and bodies are so close, it is inevitable that people start introducing themselves. The trick is to get yourself in the middle of things where you cannot help but meet the people standing around you!
If you consider yourself shy or just don’t think you know enough people (or enough about networking) to get in there and mingle, try to keep in mind that mingling is the way you learn and meet more people. Get your food or beverage and then ease yourself into the middle of the room, I promise you will meet someone. Remind yourself that there is a difference between mingling and lingering—lingering is what you are doing if you hang around the edges of the room or group and mingling is what happens when you force yourself into the middle of things to see what happens!
Also: Conversation Starter Trick–What Do They Have in Their Hand?