The Challenge: Conference prep, attendance, and follow-up can feel overwhelming. The good news? You can streamline this process to maximize benefits and minimize burnout.
Setting Clear Goals
Why it Matters: Goals provide direction. Whether you aim to network, learn new skills, or meet potential clients, clear goals set the stage for a productive conference.
Pro Tip: Set one overarching goal or break it down with daily focuses. Early in my career, I aimed to learn more speaking skills. Now, after 11 years in business and 14 years of speaking, I focus on networking. A win for me is walking away with one or two new insights.
Strategically Plan Your Schedule
Action Step: Review the agenda and prioritize must-attend sessions. Introverts – schedule downtime to recharge.
Pro Tip: Pre-conference connections are gold. Contact potential meetups via email or LinkedIn, but leave room for spontaneous encounters. I always plan one or two meetups before the conference starts, like a dinner or early coffee.
Packing Essentials
Must-Haves:
- Comfortable shoes (30,000 steps a day at one conference!)
- Jacket or sweater (conference rooms = Arctic zones)
- Snacks, gum, mints, travel mug, water bottle
Pro Tip: Take hand warmers if you are prone to freezing and keep them in your pockets.
Staying Engaged Without Burning Out
Pace Yourself: Avoid every session and schedule breaks.
Pro Tip:
- Plan for nights out and early mornings.
- Eat light and eat meals that will avoid energy crashes. Choose one meal a day to splurge, and try not to eat too many high-sugar, high-carb meals at lunch so you don't hit a mid-afternoon slump.
- Stop caffeine around 2:00 p.m. for better sleep.
Smart Networking
Focus on Quality: Aim for meaningful conversations over a race for the most business cards.
Pro Tip: Snap photos of those business cards and send them to an assistant or someone on Fiverr to organize on a spreadsheet with links to their website, LinkedIn profile, and email address. Follow up within two days.
Efficient Note-Taking
Simplify: Distill notes into three columns or pages – quotes, actions, and stories.
Pro Tip: Reflect daily and prioritize three key actions. Post-conference, look at your three items each day and narrow them down again until you have only three actions—manageable and sustainable!
Post-Conference Organization
Action Step: Upon returning, organize notes, highlight three action items, and follow up with new contacts promptly.
Pro Tip: Schedule no meetings for your first day back to integrate key takeaways and follow-up.
The Bottom Line:
With smart planning, energy management, and effective follow-ups, you can maximize your conference experience without burnout and have a solid plan to implement your actions.
