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Tips for Attending Seminars & Conferences
Corporate
organisations are spending thousands of dollars every year attending
national and international conventions, seminars and conferences.
Could they be missing out on valuable networking opportunities
at these events purely through lack of planning?
Some
of the most valuable networking happens in the most informal situations.
So, be prepared!
Here
are a few tips:
Prior
to the conference:
- Remember
to take plenty of your business cards. If you are running low
on cards, order more now, don't be caught short. Check with
the organisers, how many people are attending. Work out how
many people you assume you will meet and have a quality conversation
with, the number of exhibitors who may ask for your contact
details and then allow another ten cards or so, for the unexpected.
- Take
a small pile of blank cards with you. You will find a number
of good contacts who may have forgotten to take their cards
or have run out. Don't miss an opportunity to follow up with
these people. Give them one of your blank cards to write their
contact details, email address, etc.
- Include
a highlight pen in your conference pack. Use this to highlight
on your program the breakout sessions you wish to attend, important
starting times, etc. If you are fortunate enough to be given
a list of attendees, highlight those you wish to make contact
with. The clearer you are on the outcomes you want, the more
chance you have of achieving them.
- If
it is an international conference, remember your camera. It
is far easier to have a photographic reminder of the people
you meet, sit with at dinner, attend excursions with, etc.,
than committing everything to memory.
When
you do develop the photos, have two for one prints made and send
a copy of the photo to the other delegates you have met. Always
include your name and contact details(preferably on a sticker)
on the back of the photos and date of the event. It is surprising
how often these photographs can help to cement an international
negotiation. Be seen, get known, move ahead.
- Remember
to change your voice-mail or pager message advising that you
will be unavailable for the length of the conference. Leave
an urgent venue contact number for anything that is truly urgent.
- Take
a brightly coloured action plan. Aim to write action bullet
points as they come to you during the event. If you don't write
them down, it is possible you will forget them.
At
the conference:
- Where
possible, arrive early for all sessions. This will give you
an opportunity to plan where you will sit, speak to other delegates
prior to the speakers commencing and meet more people.If you
arrive just in time, or late, you will have little opportunity
to network other than to nod to the person you eventually sit
beside.
- Select
a well lit, central location that will become a "meeting place"
for interesting people you meet, strangers you want to get to
know a little better and a great spot for crowd watching. When
you meet new people, you may suggest to them that they join
you for a coffee/drink at this meeting place at the end of the
session, prior to excursions, etc. Often people wander around
aimlessly wishing they had the opportunity to connect with others
during the down time/free time at the conference. Basically,
act like the host and not the guest!
- Attend
as many of the social events for the conference as possible.
Some of the best contacts you will make may happen in the relaxed
atmosphere of a cocktail party or barbeque.
- At
conference meal times - aim to sit with a different group at
each sitting and preferably people you don't know. Avoid sitting
with people from your own organisation at the meal times and
during the sessions. Catch up for a 10 minute debrief at the
end of the day. . . you have plenty of time to see them back
at the office. Move out of your comfort zone.
And,
finally, enjoy yourself and remember to always follow up with
the people you meet. |
