I love a nice manicure and pedicure. It’s a time to relax, slow down and be pampered.
According to the Wall Street Journal’s Jo Piazza, “Manicure Meetings” are more and more common among women in New York. It’s the professional woman’s answer to the boy’s club bonding over the 9th hole. At the nail salon, Piazza points out, you can’t reach for your phone to check your messages. You can’t jump out of a meeting to answer an important email. You have to engage, listen and contribute to conversation.
I know I would happily attend an evening meeting if it was a mani meeting.
As someone who truly appreciates the value of networking, I would love to see this taken in another direction as well. Instead of a cocktail networking meeting or early morning breakfast meeting, what about a mani/pedi/networking event? Here are my top five reasons for why I think this innovative event would be successful:
1. You can’t help but be relaxed as you network--you’re being pampered;
2. It’s something different, so different that the event in itself would spark conversation;
3. It’s an event that supports small businesses;
4. You can’t check your phone, emails, texts etc. while your nails are dry; and
5. It would help to build stronger community ties by hosting events where you live and work.
What do you think?
Read more about Jo Piazza's article here.
