Tips for attending conferences
September 1, 2011 3:54 pm GeneralThe Blue Advocado (formerly Board Café) is one of my favourite newsletters – there’s always at least one article I want to read, and the area of non-profit management is such a broad and deep one that there’s always something to learn.
This month’s issue has some great tips on how to get more out of conferences:
- Choose the sessions you know the least about
- Instead of listening for good ideas (only), listen for things you can quote in your next grant proposal or monthly report
- Skip at least one session. Go outside.
- Fail-proof way to meet someone: get to a session early; other introverts will be sitting there playing solitaire on their cell phones. Sit near one of them, then lean over and say, “Would you mind if I introduced myself? I’m supposed to meet at least five new people at this conference and I haven’t met any so far!”
- If you’re bored or irritated by a session, walk out.
- Put up a sign on the bulletin board to meet people. If no-one turns up, no-one will ever know.
Certainly, tips 1, 2 and 6 are things I have not done before, and would be interested in trying.
September 1st, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Also:
7. Turn off wifi
September 1st, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I’ve heard that 5 (walk out if bored) works really well. I haven’t been to a conference that encourages that, people just seem to check their email instead.
What would be great is a WiFi meter that the speaker can see so they can gauge the audiences response 🙂