And Carrie On

As I am gearing up to once again attend the CASE District IV Annual Conference, I find myself reflecting on my time attending conferences.

CASE IV was my very first professional conference. I was fresh out of college, and my boss told me I needed to attend this conference.

I signed up to go, but I was so new to professional conferences that I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how to make a strong first impression. Instead, I haphazardly packed business cards, a few business casual outfits, and I loaded up my car for the drive to Oklahoma City.

Looking back, I could have benefited from a primer about what to expect and how to prepare. Here are a few insights I wish someone had shared with me.

Conference Insights

1. Understand the Vibe – Many conferences go more casual for evening activities and events. Do a little digging to understand if people dress down in the evening. If so, make sure you account for this in your packing.
2. Sit Up Front – Sitting up front helps you be more visible to others in the room. After all, you walk past everyone to enter and to exit. This gives you more opportunities to engage with the speaker but also to have conversations as you come and go from sessions.
3. Go to Something Outside Your Role – As a new professional, chances are you are going to be tactically focused on your own work. You should be. However, conferences are a great time to attend a session outside your typical scope. This will help you understand your colleagues and the profession more broadly. Additionally, as you grow as a professional, this will help you relate to your colleagues.
4. Missing a Session is Okay – If nothing speaks to you in a time slot, that’s okay. Instead of forcing it, use this time to either go to a session that is outside of your work or have a deeper conversation about an idea or a topic that’s been discussed. If you’ve learned something, this would be a great opportunity to explore it further with a conference colleague.
5. Take a Break – Oftentimes after the sessions, people go to the bar or meet for dinner. You need to do this. However, it’s important (especially as an introvert) to head to your room and take 10 minutes to rest. During that 10 minutes, I usually will check in with family, sit in silence for a few, and freshen up. It’s amazing how a touch up with the curling iron and brushing my teeth reenergizes my soul and helps me continue the networking.
6. Follow Up – After the conference, don’t forget to connect. It can be so easy to get back into email and never follow up. However, that’s a missed opportunity. Be sure to write a note or an email to the people who you met to keep the conversation going after the conference.
7. Don’t Overdo It – There are receptions, bar gatherings, and meal times — all with alcohol. You are representing your organization and your industry. Have what you can handle, and be sure to drink plenty of safety water. Also, be sure you’re at sessions the next day.

One Closing Thought

As you’re heading to a conference, here’s a post I’ve written about how I like my teams to share takeaways. It’s a lot less intimidating than pages of notes and helps me focus on a few key takeaways instead of getting overwhelmed by all the things I’ve learned.

If there are great tips you have to help new professionals navigate conferences, please share them in the comments! Also, if you see me at a conference, please say hi!

Also, if you see me at a conference, please say hi!