Conferences are a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself within your industry, but they can also be overwhelming. It’s safe to assume any business conference, or gathering, will demand a great deal of energy, especially while traveling. Below are my best practices to make sure I get the most out of the conferences I attend.
Pack a Variety of Clothes
In addition to my business attire and workout clothes, I like to pack a couple of casual and more fun outfits. At the end of a long day in meetings, it’s nice to throw on something more comfortable (yet still professional). Plus, if you get any spare time on the trip to do some sightseeing, it’s nice to ditch the dressy shoes and blazer.
Bring Plenty of Business Cards
Don’t be the person who goes to the beach and forgets the sunscreen. Be prepared by packing some business cards, and then when you think you have enough, throw it a few more. Not only do you look pompous by saying “I’m all out of business cards,” but you could also be missing an opportunity to connect with someone.
Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand
If you’re like me, it’s hard to justify showing up to conferences early to eat the mediocre eggs and yogurt they put out at the buffet. Whether you bring snacks from home or buy them while you travel, it’s great to have them handy. Especially when the 7:00am breakfast just doesn’t sound enticing. Being vegetarian limits my options at conferences, so I always make sure to have some energy bars or apples stashed in my bag for when I’m desperate.
Take Notes
If you don’t take notes, what are you going to bring home with you besides the few business cards you stuffed in your wallet? Note taking is not only a great way to stay engaged in meetings, but are fantastic to reference down the road. I once was asked to give a presentation on a three day conference I attended, and I was able to easily pull key points, quotes and stats from my notes without a problem. Whether I’m at the office or at a conference, you’ll never catch me without my Moleskin notebook.
Be Social
Even if you’re naturally an extrovert, it can be hard to socialize at a conference, especially if you don’t know anyone there. It can be awkward making small talk with strangers. Play your cards right though, and you could end up making some great business connections or even sparking new friendships. If you’re a pleasant person, chances are you will be invited to exclusive dinners and networking events. Keep an open mind.
Be a Good Listener
You can be as social as you want, but if you’re not a good listener, you won’t get anywhere. Tune into what people are saying and make sure you are not always making the conversation about yourself. If you’re a good listener, you will be able to ask great questions and prove that you are interested and engaged. Plus, if you’re not listening to your peers, you’re simply wasting not only their time, but your own.
Follow Up
Don’t forget to obtain a point of contact to reach the people you network with at your conferences so you may follow up. I would recommend waiting until the next business week to ping them. It’s nice to touch base with your connections to not only thank them for their time, but continue any business-related conversations you may of had during the conference.
Bottom Line
Conferences can be a lot to handle, but given the right amount of thought and plan of action, you can be sure you’ll get the most out of it. Bringing a positive and open mind to business trips will take you farther than the person with more experience than you who is unwilling to put themself out there. I’ve made tons of valuable connects by following these few guiding principles. Hopefully these tips are able to help you elevate your conference experiences to the next level.
