You're attending a professional development conference. How do you make the most of it?

To get the best outcome from a conference do the following: 1. Start with the end in mind. Determine what you want out if it and work backwards yo reach that goal. 2. Do your homework. -Find out as much as you can and visualize yourself at the event. -This includes funding out about the speakers, people you want to meet or network with. -Find them on LinkedIn and connect ahead of time to make the connection happen faster. 3. Plan schedule and book appointments in advance. 4. Use your energy on activities that will render best ROI.

Making plans are important, way before the event, plan to engage and network, look up the profile of each speakers and make plan to engage them. Now, this means you have to read about them and know enough to be able to engage with them in a conversation

Cuando decido asistir a congresos o conferencias, lo primero que hago es hablar con mi manager para determinar cómo mi asistencia puede aportar valor a nuestra empresa desde mi posición. Esta forma de actuar no solo es beneficiosa para mi desarrollo profesional, sino que también favorece el crecimiento y la mejora continua de todo nuestro equipo.

Making the most of professional development conferences begins with You. Attend these programs with an open, receptive mind and be teachable, but of course, stay ready to compare, contrast and relearn. Do your homework. Before attending any conference, you have a goal in mind, achievable and realistic goals, and how we achieve these goals boils down to our ability to carry out adequate research on what we are engaging in. Who the speakers are, who are the target audience; which enables us meaningfully connect, build networks and gain the full experience of the program. Network strategically. Lastly, Take Action. Be a doer and not a mere listener. Go back to the drawing board and begin to implement and build on everything learnt.

For introverts, attending conferences can be particularly stressful. Planning what you want to achieve ahead of time can help to alleviate some of the pressure, and give you a list of actions for the day itself. Don't try to do everything at once, but prioritize what is most important for you to achieve right now. Think about the actions you can take to achieve your goal: > Collecting information > Growing your network > Listening to a speaker > Sharing your resume Armed with your action list you can get through the day one step, action, or conversation at a time.

Look up information about the speakers presenting at the conference. Understanding their backgrounds, expertise, and topics they will cover can help you prioritize which sessions to attend and who you may want to connect with.

This is one place where introverts and extroverts are likely to follow very different paths. You know yourself better than anyone. What is it that you know about yourself that you need to take care of and plan for even before you get there?

Absolutely! Networking with like-minded professionals is indeed one of the key benefits of attending a conference. Here are some reasons why networking at conferences can be valuable: ? Building connections: Conferences offer a unique opportunity to meet and connect with professionals who share similar interests, expertise, or industry backgrounds. Building a strong professional network can open doors to collaboration, career opportunities, and valuable insights. ? Knowledge sharing: Engaging in conversations with fellow attendees can broaden your perspective, expose you to new ideas, and provide opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Networking is essential at conferences. It’s the marshmallow to the hot chocolate! Connecting and building relationships is what sticks after the conference. We encourage each other to delve deeper.

Considero que un aspecto fundamental de asistir a estos eventos es la oportunidad de conocer a otros profesionales que comparten mis intereses. Esta interacción me permite establecer relaciones profesionales valiosas, a través de las cuales puedo aprender de diversas experiencias y perspectivas que no solo enriquecen mi conocimiento actual, sino que también abren puertas para futuras colaboraciones y oportunidades de crecimiento.

Keep this question in mind and use it at your next event: What are you looking forward to this year? This will help you skip the small talk and deeply connect to other participants. Try to use it 2 times: a. One time with someone you feel like you resonate a lot b. Another time with someone you feel you have nothing in common. You will be surprised by the outcome :)

Before the event, write down your goals with networking. Are you looking for - a new role? - recommended courses / learning possibilities - a mentor/coach/a more senior person to learn from - like-minded people with whom you can support each other's work on LinkedIn - deep conversations - inspiration After writing down your main goals, think about possible questions you can ask from your new connections. Come prepared to get the most out of it. If your goal is to meet at least 5 people, have a strategy on entering and politely leaving a conversation so you can get the know the next person.

To maximise your experience at a professional development conference, speaking as an introvert, step out of your comfort zone. Choose a seat at the front, not the back. Initiate conversations rather than waiting for others to approach you; a simple introduction and a question about their work can ignite meaningful dialogues. Remember, many attendees frequent similar events, so these connections can be the start of an ongoing professional network. Actively participating in discussions and networking not only enriches your learning but also broadens your influence in the industry.

Do you know the acronym "UGOWUPI"? It means: You Get Out What You Put In. When you're at the conference, commit to literally being there: Turn off your phone. Don't hide in the restroom. Go to where your anxiety is, i.e. listen to your body: What do you feel drawn to? - To which seat? - To which conference participants? - To which topic? - To which question? Be brave with yourself and - Sit in the courageous seat - Say "hello" to a person you are curious about - Listen to the speaker with all your senses - Ask a question that interests you - Take breaks as needed You will find yourself engaged, nourished and eager to put into practice what you have learned in the conference. Enjoy - UGOWUPI !

The best way to engage is to teach what you have learned. Take one lesson from the conference and teach it to someone who might need help. This ensures that you learn twice. The best way to progress is to create a habit of doing more than what you are paid to do. Sometimes you will not even be paid. It does not matter. Focus on your learnings and give before you take.

There is no shadow of doubt that participation in the conference without a take away will never let you live much required professional and personal development!

Trying to apply everything that you have learned can cause goal diffusion and loss of motivation. The simplest way to apply your learning is to take ONE thing that you learned and apply that for a week. If it works, well and good. If it does not, review what went wrong or maybe that was not the right thing for you. If it worked partially, re-define what you did and use a different approach. If you have a peer support group or a mentor, tell them exactly what you are working on and that would create a psychological responsibility and made you accountable for your work.

Write down some action points from what you have learnt. People always miss that part, the action part . Now that you have heard this, you must ask yourself, what do you plan to do differently?

Sometimes, you won’t get the permission to meet with the speakers, it’s okay, network with your fellow attendees. And keep growing. Keep getting better.

Professional growth: Interacting with industry peers and experts can enhance your professional development. Conversations at conferences can lead to valuable advice, mentoring relationships, and exposure to new career opportunities. You can also gain firsthand insights into successful strategies, best practices, and innovative solutions. Remember to approach networking with an open mind, actively listen, ask thoughtful questions, and be genuinely interested in others. By taking advantage of networking opportunities, you can expand your professional network and unlock a range of potential benefits.

Most times, speakers at conferences like this are active on professional platforms like LinkedIn. Reach out to them after the conference. Appreciate the opportunity to learn from them. Do this in such a way that they would have no choice but to notice you. Kindly note that you may not get an immediate response, if this is the case, you may follow up.