Just a few years ago, attending an industry conference may have sounded to some like a reason to travel to a warm climate and a chance to reconnect with old friends. While it may still be some of these things
in San Diego was that and much more), it is also a golden opportunity to connect with clients, colleagues and business prospects.
Yet even attending a program in a sunny climate can cause overload. What programs should I attend? What if there is an emergency back at the office? Will I get to meet the people I want to meet?
After comparing notes with a few friends (and living through decades of conferences), I’ve gathered some practices I find helpful. Please add on some of your own.
Pre conference
- Take time to review the program in advance. Plan your schedule to fit in time for programming, seeing colleagues and maybe even seeing a local attraction (aka the seals and sea lions in La Jolla.) You want to prepare to take advantage of the conference’s relevant sessions and networking opportunities, but you also want to know when you will have blocks of time to meet with clients and colleagues.
- Download the conference app to see who else is attending. This will help you set up meetings, whether you are on the vendor or client side of the equation.
- Keep a printed version of the conference agenda, your itinerary/personal schedule, and a version on both on your phone.
At the conference
- Travel as tech-lightly as possible. (I like the iPad mini or just using my phone.) While I always take notes during sessions, I also don’t want to kill my back by lugging around too much extra equipment. I also bring a thin notebook to take handwritten notes when that option is easier.
- Attend diverse sessions. Don’t limit yourself to sessions directly related to your current role. Explore topics outside your comfort zone to gain new perspectives and insights that could benefit your professional growth.
- Take breaks. I often meet people at conferences who say they are on overload. No wonder! Constantly focusing on a subject matter without any breaks is bound to lead to exhaustion. Take short breaks between sessions to recharge and avoid burnout.
Post conference
- Continue to nurture the relationships you’ve started to build. Follow up with those you’ve met as soon as you can via email or, even better, a handwritten note. Personalize your messages to show your appreciation and reinforce your discussion.
- Connect with any new contacts on LinkedIn. Follow up on any promises made, and stay engaged in relevant discussions to maintain your network.
- If you are a speaker or panelist, any material you present can usually be used again and re-purposed in several different ways on social media.
- Implement your learnings. Put into practice the ideas and strategies you’ve learned at the conference. Share these with your team, colleagues or clients to maximize the impact of your experience.
