The Official BNI Podcast

Episode 940: Holiday Party Networking
Release Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Dr. Ivan Misner
Co-host: Priscilla Rice

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, discusses how to approach networking at holiday parties. He delivers actionable tips for leveraging festive gatherings—not just traditional business mixers—as opportunities to forge meaningful business relationships. The conversation is filled with practical advice for business professionals, entrepreneurs, and BNI members looking to maximize holiday season connections without coming across as too sales-oriented.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reframing Holiday Parties as Networking Opportunities

• Dr. Misner explains that holidays aren’t just about celebration—they’re a unique chance to network in a relaxed setting.

  “Holiday parties are not just a place for free food and drinks. They're an opportunity to network, to connect with other people… The holidays are times when we're more likely to see people in a social setting, which lends itself to building relationships and connections with people when it's done right.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 01:18–02:00)

2. Key Strategies for Effective Holiday Networking

• Honor the Event (02:20)

  • Always remember the primary reason for the gathering. Don’t turn the event into a business mixer.
  • Be authentic; let people see who you are, not just your business persona.

  “You want to make sure that networking at a holiday party or any nontraditional networking event that networking is supplementary to the reason that you're there.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 02:30)

• Finesse Over Force

  • Dial back overt salesmanship; don’t deliver “boardroom presentations” at social events.
  • Focus on subtle relationship-building.

• Mindful Drinking (03:25–04:00)

  • For countries where alcohol is served, set personal limits to avoid becoming “the person people remember for the wrong reasons.”
  • BNI recommends a “two drink maximum.”

  “I love wine, but at business events you have a two drink maximum… I once said accidentally a two drink minimum. And somebody said, oh great, that's fantastic. No, no, no, I'm sorry. Two drink maximum.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 04:03–04:31)

• Stay Positive—Don't Complain or Brown-Nose (04:32)

  • Avoid negative topics like how busy you are or problems at work.
  • Likewise, don’t overdo praise or “suck up” to company leaders.

  “Don't complain about your boss or your department... that's a real mistake. On the other hand, don't be a sycophant where you just kiss up to the executives.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 04:34–05:11)

• Be Prepared & Do Your Homework (05:53)

  • Know who will be there; research their roles and recent work.
  • Use knowledge as conversation starters.

  “If you know some of the people who will be in attendance… just Google them, see what they’ve been up to and do a little bit of homework.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 06:06)

• Ask Engaging, Not Interrogative, Questions

  • Examples: “How did you start with the company? What’s your favorite achievement this year?”
  • Make conversations flow naturally; avoid rapid-fire questioning.

• Create Opportunities for Future Connection (07:01)

  • Use introductions as a segue for follow-up meetings.

  “If you’ve told you about something they’re working on, it’s a great opportunity to say, ‘I really love what you’re working on. Is there anything I can do to help?’”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 07:11)

3. Confidence and Value

• Remind yourself of your achievements before the event; be ready to mention relevant projects, but don’t brag.

• Look for overlaps between your experience and the interests of others at the event.

  “You’re bringing value to the table… give yourself a little pep talk before you walk in… and understand how what you do may integrate into your discussions.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 07:48–08:15)

• Networking can happen “anywhere, anytime, in any place”—non-traditional settings often yield the best results.

4. For Self-Employed and Client Parties

• The same principles apply regardless of whose party it is—client, customer, or your own company event.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On remembering your limits at a party:

  “Drinking too much and making a fool of yourself is just one of the major don’ts at a work party… I have a two drink maximum. That’s it, that’s as much as you can have.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 03:25–04:29)

• On being authentic:

  “The real emphasis has to be on finesse at a holiday party. Yeah, it’s a great networking opportunity. But if you overtly sell, you may turn people off. After all, it is a holiday.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 03:25)

• Paradox of non-traditional networking:

  “Paradoxically, it’s also these non-traditional networking settings where you’ll often get the most bang for your buck.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 08:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:18] – Introduction to holiday party networking: Social context and opportunity
• [02:20] – "Honor the event" principle explained
• [03:25] – Holiday party mistakes: drinking, complaining, and over-praising
• [05:53] – Preparation and research before the party
• [07:01] – Turning introductions into future opportunities
• [07:48–08:15] – Confidence and recognizing your value
• [08:33] – Why unconventional events can be powerful for networking
• [09:12] – Application for self-employed and client parties
• [09:16] – Priscilla shares her “Pie Party” example, highlighting creative approaches to holiday networking

Lighthearted Moments

• Priscilla shares her unique tradition of a “pie party” for clients, offering a choice of pies and samples (09:16–10:13), which Ivan responds to humorously:

  “You’re not driving, so you can have more than two drinks if you want.”
  (Dr. Ivan Misner, 09:54)

• Ivan jokes about never being invited to a pie party, leading to friendly banter about pies and wine (10:13–10:48).

Summary Takeaways

• Holiday parties present unique and underutilized networking opportunities.
• Be authentic, respectful, and strategic—don’t overtly sell or dominate conversations.
• Personal limits and positivity are key to making the right impression.
• Preparation, thoughtful questions, and offering future connection are best practices for building valuable relationships.

For more tips from Dr. Misner, visit MeisnerAudioProGrams.com.