RESOURCE CENTER

Conferences: Attend & Prosper!

By Christine D. Hegstad, Ph.D., MAP Professional Development Inc.

I still vividly remember the first conference in which I participated several years ago. Typically comfortable in nearly any social situation, walking amidst this large gathering of people—none of whom I knew—suddenly made me feel shy, introverted, and oddly out of place. As I regrouped (okay, hid) in my hotel room, I wondered if I simply was not meant for the conference lifestyle. Fortunately, after that inaugural experience, I decided to take action to ensure future conference attendance would fulfill three goals for me: education (I’d learn something); inspiration (I’d have fun and feel energized); and marketing (I’d spread the word about my business).

 If you plan to attend a conference this year, such as NAWBO’s upcoming Women’s Business Conference in Phoenix, you can take steps before, during, and after the event to make it positive and purposeful. Enact any of these eight simple strategies to make the most of your conference attendance—whether as a presenter, exhibitor, or attendee:

Before The Conference

• Clarify your goals for the event. What do you hope to gain by attending this conference? Your goals may direct where you focus your energy: if you want to learn strategies and best practices, plan to attend as many breakout sessions as possible. If you wish to discover available resources, make sure you visit the exhibitor center. Attend receptions, luncheons, and optional functions designed to help you meet others and fulfill your outreach goals.
• Research your surroundings. If you’re traveling out of town, investigate the new area beforehand: landmarks and historical sites you can visit, businesses you might tour, or potential partnership or referral organizations with which to connect. Contact the city’s Chamber of Commerce or visit Web sites like tripadvisor.com for ideas. Likewise, if a colleague, potential client, or businessperson you admire resides where you are headed or will attend the conference, contact her beforehand to arrange a meeting.
• Carefully consider how you want to leave your mark. If one of your goals is to gain business exposure and reach potential clients, you may wish to move beyond offering just your business card (of which you’ll want to bring many). Flyers and pamphlets are informative but often get recycled with other freebies. How about a truly functional item, such as a bookmark, packet of sticky notes, or highlighter boasting your contact information? Your prospects will remember you each time they use your item.

While You’re There

• Come prepared. While many conferences offer “goody bags,” plan to bring a notebook, pens, and your business card holder. Write tips during keynotes, jot down useful ideas gained in breakout sessions, and record comments on the back of business cards you receive to help you recall the people you meet.
• Venture out. If you attend the event with coworkers or friends, make a special point of breaking out on your own, too. Sit with new people at meals, ask others to join you for a coffee break, and reach out to those who may look a bit lost or alone. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to others, even the bigwigs.
• Focus on “relationships” instead of “networking”. Rather than exchanging elevator pitches with hundreds of people, consider spending some quality time with key individuals. (Meals offer a great opportunity for this.) Seek to share ideas, swap stories and solutions, and serve as a resource with whom they’ll want to reconnect.

As The Conference Ends

• “Green up” your experience. If you don’t want the freebies offered in your goody bag, leave them on the sharing tables. Distributors can reuse them or conference planners can make them available to others. Consider additional ways you might befriend the environment during and after your experience, too.
• Follow up. Email your new contacts to further the relationships you’ve begun building. A thank-you note to conference organizers is always appreciated; at the least, make sure you turn in your completed evaluation form. Also consider sending a card to keynoters and session presenters to let them know what you found helpful—you may be surprised at the warmth you’ll receive in return.

Conferences offer outstanding opportunities to learn, share, and grow—both personally and professionally. Keep these tips in mind as you prepare to attend your next event and pay attention to how you benefit. I am pleased to report that, thanks to purposeful preparation and a strong desire to grow myself and my business, you can now easily find me on the conference floor rather than “regrouping” from the confines of my room!

Christine D. Hegstad, Ph.D. owns MAP Professional Development Inc., a company dedicated to helping people do what they love. Through keynotes, interactive seminars, consulting and writing services, she inspires people to design meaningful careers and purposeful lives. Her transformative Life Of No Regrets campaign has prompted clients across the globe to pursue their true life’s work while finding balance, passion and clarity. To preview MAP Inc.’s services and products, book an event, or receive Dr. Hegstad’s monthly Do What You Love! e-letter, please visit www.meaning-and-purpose.com.