The holiday season is upon us again! With its many opportunities for making new contacts, this time of year can be one of the best periods to network if you know how to do it right, but you must respect the season. This is not the time for vigorous handshaking, or rushing to your pitch your services then close a deal in record time. Be more gracious than usual when networking at holiday parties. Perfect the art of small talk. Cultivate a positive outlook and a disposition that’s humorous, open, cheerful and helpful and try to describe what you do in an entertaining, story-like, conversational manner.