Holding an event and want to get people to mix across some divide?
Put the drinks and plates on one side, the food and cups on the other.
See what you did there? You’ve separated the food from the plates, and the cups from the drinks. This simple trick of making people move around to get their basics will get them to mingle, at least a little.
This works if you have two separate groups of people you need to mix up, or if you have a physical divide in an event space you want to bridge, or if you have two groups hosting and you need them to not cluster up with their friends.
Now, be prepared. It will feel inconvenient to people. They will say you’re stupid for laying it out this way. Just smile and remember that you have a bigger goal: building community.
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Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.