Business leader talking to audience
Conferences offer great potential for business professionals to light a fire under their careers. These opportunities offer a host of idea generators, thought provoking, network building and energy renewals. But if you just show up, you won’t get the full benefit of what your conference investment can bring.
Some employers are better than others at helping their talent with professional development. But at the end of the day, it’s up to you to achieve your goals, whether your employer is supporting your efforts or not. Being an engaged attendee at the conference will help you control your own destiny.
Expectations are important here. If you set out for a stellar experience, you’re sure to have one. I like to energize before entering the conference hotel. Here are four ways you can set yourself up for success at your next conference as well.
1. Make the arrangements early
Once you see a conference that appeals to you, start making all the necessary arrangements to attend. Get the early registration discount and mark yourself off the office calendar. I always want to make sure nothing so important is scheduled that I feel compelled to cancel my reservation later.
Make your travel arrangements immediately, especially if you are leaving the country. I remember, my trip to the Web Summit in Portugal was much more involved compared to staying stateside. If it was planned for a country with more demand, like Turkey, I would need extra time to go online and process a Turkey e-Visa. It’s important to go to links like this to learn about specific situations in countries because they can all be different and put someone in a bad spot.
Also, if you plan to do a little sightseeing before or after the conference, make those reservations as well. Getting everything done early will give you plenty of time to focus on other preparations.
2. Do your homework
I am a big believer in doing a proper briefing before starting the trip. This is how you can get the most out of attending one.
Read conference materials, speaker biographies, tract information, and schedules. Depending on the conference, this can be a time-consuming task. For example, Web Summit features hundreds of speakers, so I had to narrow down my list to the thought leaders I most wanted to hear from.
If you find a tract or session on a subject you know little about but want to know more about, learn enough about it so you don’t walk away completely uninitiated. That way, you won’t be left behind from the start.
3. Reach out to others
Conferences offer numerous opportunities to network, both socially and professionally. Contacting others who participate in advance will not leave who you interact with to chance. Especially if it’s a big conference, you’ll want to make sure you meet at some point.
Ask co-workers, clients and even friends if they will go. With the conference schedule in hand, schedule times to meet or save a seat for someone at a conference meal. Don’t forget to check the list of exhibitors and highlight the ones you want to talk to. You’ll make their day if you shoot off an email saying you’d like to visit with them while you’re there.
If you are a little reserved about networking, find a colleague who is more friendly to join you and coordinate your schedules. Your partner can break the ice and you can enter the conversation when you’re ready.
4. Pack yourself
You will be busy while attending a conference. Be sure to pack everything you think you’ll need long before you leave. This will give you time to add and subtract as needed until the trip.
I like to collect items like work conference schedules, business cards, passports and any other documents I might need. I make sure my reservations, airline tickets, and any useful apps are loaded on my phone and my out-of-office response is scheduled. And don’t overlook note-taking devices, whether it’s pen and paper or an E Ink tablet.
Check your conference materials to make sure you’re packing the right clothes, and don’t forget some casual gear for vacations or workouts. You don’t want to stop by the dry cleaners on your way to the airport.
Prepare to be energized
Conferences are not vacations, even if they are combined with one. But they are a way to recharge your batteries. Combine this with learning new things and coming up with innovative ideas and they are certainly opportunities not to be missed. Just remember to have your ducks in a row long before you go.