A BRIEF SCIENCE OF SCHMOOZING

If you are getting schmoozed, you’ve got it made. The number and frequency of schmoozes determines the level at which you made it. There are a couple of corollary factors associated with this assumption, though. One is “who is schmoozing you?” and the other is related to cultural norms. Finally, is the schmoozing taking place in a formal or informal setting?

The authority and position of the person doing the schmoozing is correlated with the coefficient of impact. The closer in rank and status between the schmoozer and the schmoozed, the better it is in terms of value. Many lower down will engage in frequent schmoozing in an attempt to bypass normal progression in career development. This can have several adverse consequences and ultimately land the person being schmoozed into trouble. 

In many traditional settings (not quite limiting this to broader cultures), schmoozing is naturally associated with particular formal ranks and statuses, without regard to the person occupying the position itself. Here, women tend to schmooze more often than men; the gender of the schmoozed is not related. However, given the social construction of the power pyramid, it is men who get schmoozed more often than women. 

If the schmoozing is taking place in an informal setting where both parties are occupying an informal role, it does not count towards “getting it made”. At best, it can be considered networking.