As higher education leaders, we are in the midst of the fall conference season. There are lots of professional development opportunities.
I had a conversation with a colleague at another university, and he was heading to a conference by himself. Without a work friend to navigate the several days, he was struggling. As higher education budgets become tighter, I suspect we may have more people going solo to conferences, which is part of what inspired today’s post.
Five Strategies to Consider
If you’re heading to a conference alone, here are five strategies to help you get the best out of the experience.
Ask for the Attendee List
Be sure to get the attendee list early. This will allow you to reach out before the conference to those you know (or would like to know better) to schedule a meet up, invite them to go with you to the reception, or sit together at lunch. Having this list in before the conference starts and doing some advance work can help make sure you have someone to go to meals with, drinks with, or attend sessions with.
Decide on (and Select) Sessions Early
As a party of one, you won’t have a chance to divide and conquer when it comes to great sessions. That makes it even more important to review the agenda early and decide on the sessions you’d like to attend. If the conference is at capacity, be sure to select your sessions early and note those with the conference team, so you’re able to attend those particular sessions.
Use the Conference App and Hashtag
The conference app and official hashtag are great ways to join the conversation about the conference. Often, the app has lists of people attending and the ability to private message attendees. This is an easy way to connect with presenters and colleagues to find friends to meet for a drink, networking conversation, or a meal. Additionally, using the social media hashtag is important to share that you’ll be attending the conference and joining in on the chatter can help you find colleagues to engage with during your time there.
Arrive on Time to Meal Functions
Another pro-tip if you’re by yourself is to be on time to meal functions. This is important because you want to find a table to sit at that has a few people already at it. This will make it easy to join a conversation and make new connections. What I’ve found is that if I’m too early I end up awkwardly sitting alone. If I’m too late, many of the spots may be filled or the conversations are already in full swing, making it hard for me to jump into a conversation.
Say Yes to After Hour Activities
It is so tempting after a conference to head up to your room and check email, order dinner, or decompress. I find the temptation is even more real if I’m by myself. However, it’s important to use this opportunity to build connections and relationships with those at the conference. This is also an opportunity (especially early at the conference) to connect with colleagues that you can hang out with throughout the conference.
What Else?
I’m curious what other strategies I should be considering. If you have a pro-tip as a solo attendee, please drop your thoughts into the comments. I’d love to hear it.
And Carrie On 