How can you maximize the benefits of attending industry conferences?

?? I've found that having clear objectives in mind helps in maximizing the experience and makes planning breakout sessions far less stressful. For instance, at the latest industry conference I attended, I aimed to find new ways to communicate agile methodology to 'anti-agile' leadership. Having that in the back of my mind made session choices easier and gave me a hopper of potential questions to ask to engage with the speakers, who are almost always happy to add specific value where they can. ??

While conferences are always great to learn something new about a topic I feel the greatest benefit comes from being able to network with people who also find the agenda attractive! That opens up A slew of possibilities to interact and collaborate with people who are interested in areas that perfectly synergise with yours. I had worked in agile very early in my career , when it wasn’t that commonly used (way back in 2008-9). One of the easiest way for me to connect with other agile practitioners was through conferences. I always found a whole host of my practical questions on it got answered in such forums. Whether it was about how to convince senior management about its benefits or managing budgets I always came away wiser.

Most conferences involve exposure to a number of ideas, situations, people, and insights; far more than you can fully absorb in the brief duration of the conference. Embrace your own learning style - doing whatever it takes for you to engage with the conference content. This might mean giving yourself permission to not have detailed notes on every presentation you attend. The goal is engagement, not total recall of everything you see and hear. Try to take enough notes so that a week after the conference, you can recall at least one takeaway or insight from each session you attend. If a particular presenter really grabs your interest, make a point to engage with them after the session, or continue the conversation a week or two later.

It's essential to have a clear yet adaptable strategy when attending conferences. It's beneficial to record notes, reflections, and key learnings post-conference. Personally, I find jotting these down on an e-tablet and filing them as brief notes works well. Include a follow-up plan highlighting potential opportunities. This doesn't need to be overly detailed or formal. Often, dedicating just 30 to 45 minutes to this exercise can significantly enhance the value gained from any conference.

I have attended several conferences, and there is almost always someone in the audience who is not fully 'present' because they are trying to keep up with whatever is going on 'back at the office.' If you cannot be out-of-office for the duration of the conference, then don't go to the conference. You don't need the added stress of trying to do your job while also attending a conference. This applies equally to a hybrid or virtual conference. You will not get the promised value from a conference if you cannot 'unplug' from your daily routine. Also, I have attended conferences by myself as well as with colleagues. I always get more value from attending with a colleague because exposure to ideas is better when shared with someone else.