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Come
Home Rich
How to Get the Most out of Your Next Conference
by Steve
Kaye, Ph.D.
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Success in your career depends upon how you manage your professional development.
And a prime source of this development comes from your professional association.
As a member, you can attend conferences where you advance your skills and meet people
who can help you.
Some people, however, treat attendance at conferences as a paid vacation. They party,
they skip sessions, and they return home with nothing more than a stack of receipts.
That costs them (or their business) money and contributes nothing to professional
growth.
Here's how to get the most out of your next conference.
Start
With a Plan
First, make a list of your goals for attending the conference. For example, this
could include the information that you want to gain, the relationships that you want
to deepen, the people you want to meet, and the things that you want to buy. Also,
make a list of questions that you want to have answered while you're at the conference.
This list will help you focus on your personal agenda during the conference and will
maximize your chances of returning with something that benefits your career.
Then, scan through the program to select those sessions that help you the most. These
could be on topics that teach you skills leading to a promotion, help open new opportunities
at work, or answer important questions about your career. If many valuable sessions
are scheduled at the same time, then select your first and second choices. You may
find that one of the sessions has been canceled or filled (sold out).
I always highlight my top priority sessions so that I can sign up or arrive early.
These sessions have such great value that they often justify attending the conference,
and I want to make sure that I'm there when they start.
If you are an employee who must obtain approval to attend a conference, you can use
this plan to justify your request. Supplement your plan with explanations of how
the information, relationships, and participation at the conference will enhance
your value to your company. Wise leaders always support someone who relates a request
to the benefits that come from it.
Work
the Plan
While at the conference keep your list of goals and questions in mind. Begin each
day by checking your list and identifying those goals that you can achieve during
that day. For example, some sessions may provide information that answers some of
your questions.
At the end of the day review your list and check off those goals that you accomplished.
If you discover new opportunities, then add them to your list of goals. And if you
find yourself stuck on reaching a goal, seek out a senior member whom you can ask
for advice on how to achieve it.
Meet
People
One of the major benefits that you gain from attending a conference will be the relationships
that you start by meeting new people. These relationships can become sources of information,
friendship, and job opportunities.
Thus, make it a point to meet new people. Instead of spending all of your time with
friends or colleagues, go off on your own. Join other people for meals. Sit next
to them during the sessions. Start conversations while walking between sessions.
And be sure to ask for a business card. Then you can add that person's contact information
into your contact database.
I encourage you to introduce yourself to the speakers. They were invited to speak
at the conference because of their expertise in your profession. Thus, they can become
valuable resources for information, assistance, and referrals. The best time to meet
speakers is right after they finish their presentation. Introduce yourself, offer
a brief compliment on the presentation, and ask for a business card. Of course, if
you meet them again at the conference, use this as an opportunity to talk further.
Apply
What You Gained
When you return home, set aside an hour or so to review the notes that> you took
while at the conference. You may want to schedule this on your calendar before you
leave for the conference.
Review your notes, identifying the main ideas. Then convert each of these ideas into
an action that you will take to implement it. Ideally, this will produce a list of
things to do. Once you finish the list add a completion date and assign a priority.
Recognize that this step converts everything that you learned, collected, and gained
during the conference into tangible benefits for yourself and your company.
If you are an employee, I recommend writing a report for your management. Document
the key ideas that you gained and describe how they can be applied to your work.
If you're an independent, you may still want to write such a report for yourself
because this formalizes what you gained from the conference.
Be
Grateful
When you return home, write thank you notes to the people you met at the conference.
This simple courtesy will set you apart as an exceptional person. I especially recommend
writing notes to:
1) The leaders
in the association. They worked hard to organize the> event. And they can
help you with your career.
2) Members of the staff who helped you. These are wonderful people
to know because they can help you get the most out of your membership.
3) The speakers. This could start relationships with experts and celebrities
in your profession.
4) New friends. This makes you memorable when you meet at the next
conference.
When you attend a
conference, you immerse yourself in the society and the technology of your profession.
And when you apply what you gained, your career prospers.
Business expert Steve Kaye shows leaders how to plan and communicate for results.
His innovative workshops have informed, inspired, and entertained people nationwide.
He has written two books, a booklet, and published over 90 articles on leadership
skills. To find out how he can help you improve your business, call him at 714-528-1300
or 888-421-1300, or visit his web site at: www.stevekaye.com
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