If it’s spring, it’s conference time! Many of us look forward to this form of destination travel to escape the winter doldrums and to polish our professional skills. However, as much as I loved conferences, I often found the crowds a little overwhelming. I’m not exactly an introvert, but facing hundreds of strangers brought out old insecurities. To cope, I resorted to these cop-out strategies:
- Ducking into a bathroom when I couldn’t find a familiar face to talk to
- Hightailing it back to my hotel room during scheduled conference breaks
- Obsessively checking my phone rather than standing alone at a reception
At some point, I realized my avoidant behavior was serving no real purpose. I decided to cast my introversion aside and make the most of my conference-going experience. Here’s some techniques that worked for me:
- Several weeks before the conference, scrutinize the attendee list. Look for familiar names who you can reconnect with. But also scan the list for people you want to meet. For instance, are there attendees who hold a similar position to you? Or is there someone with campaign experience who you could learn from?
- Don’t wait for serendipity to bring you together. Arrange coffee during a break, or suggest you meet up during a reception. It’s amazing how much you can learn from arranging mini-mentoring sessions.
- Scan the program for interesting speakers. Make a point of attending their session and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. If they are in a position of providing advice, stay in touch with them. This isn’t an intrusion: they will be flattered by your interest and will want to help.
- Note who attends your conference sessions. If you see someone during a break or at a reception, introduce yourself. Ask about their impressions of the workshop you both attended or get their reactions to a keynote speech.
- Don’t disregard the vendors. They are there to answer your questions, and their product or service could be beneficial to you in the future.
- Show a little empathy and introduce yourself to someone who may be standing alone or looks a little lost.
To have a really productive conference experience, make the most of your time between breakout sessions and keynotes. Those networking opportunities, lunches, and cocktail receptions could elevate your experience and introduce you to interesting colleagues and potential mentors.