by Gilda Bonanno LLC
Years ago, when I first set out to teach a networking class, I proposed calling it How to Network. My client’s response? “Great topic—terrible title. It’s too boring.”
I pushed back, arguing that it was clear and descriptive. But they had another idea: “What if we called it How to Schmooze?”
I cringed. Schmoozing sounded like something a pushy salesperson would do—insincere, self-serving, and transactional. It conjured up images of pushy salespeople trying to offload a faulty used car or someone networking with purely selfish motives.
But my client insisted: “Trust me—it’ll sell.” And they were right; the class filled up then and every time since then that I’ve offered it with that title.
To make peace with the term, I looked it up in the dictionary and found a definition of "schmooze" that I could embrace: to converse informally or chat in a friendly manner. That resonated with me because, at its core, networking isn’t about transactions or selling something—it’s about genuine conversations.
Since then, I’ve embraced the word schmoozing, not as a gimmick, but as a reminder that networking is about genuine, friendly conversations—not forced interactions.
Before I teach schmoozing, I always take a moment to define the word as I mean it, because it helps people understand networking in a new light. It’s not about selling yourself; it’s about building real connections.
When done right, schmoozing isn’t something to cringe at—it’s a powerful tool for creating meaningful professional relationships.
© Gilda Bonanno LLC - Gilda Bonanno serves as a trusted advisor to executives and entrepreneurs to transform their communication, presentation and leadership skills. She has worked with companies on 4 continents, from Chicago to Shanghai and Rio to Rome. The instructional videos on her YouTube channel have received over 1.5 million views and her e-newsletter has reached subscribers in over 45 countries since 2008. For other articles or to receive Gilda's e-newsletter, visit www.gildabonanno.com