Networking Guides
Making the most of winter networking dinners
Golf season is months away. Winter dinners are where many executive relationships quietly begin. A practical guide for the off-season.
The takeaway
Treat a winter dinner as a long conversation with a few people rather than a room to work. Depth now makes spring golf introductions easier.
Why the off-season matters
January and February are quieter for many leaders. Fewer competing events means people are often more present and more willing to talk at length over a meal.
Relationships started over dinner carry into the golf season, when you already have someone to play with and something to follow up on.
At the table
Sit next to someone you do not know. Ask about the year ahead for their business, what changed last year, and what they are hoping to learn.
- Introduce the people on either side of you to each other.
- Save business detail for a follow-up call.
- Leave with one specific next step, not a stack of cards.
Following up
Send a short note within a few days that references the conversation. If you mentioned a golf outing, suggest a date once the calendar is published.
