How to Make the Most of Conference Attendance
With the HSPA Annual Conference and Expo around the corner, we have been thinking about the immense value of attending conferences and meetings.
People attend conferences for different reasons. Some may be focused more on learning and gaining CE credits towards recertification and furthering their education. Others may be more intent on meeting people in their field and networking. No matter your priority, here are our top 4 tips to maximize your conference experience.
Plan in Advance
Be sure to review the conference schedule before you arrive. Identify the talks and events that are most important and interesting to you. This schedule will be the foundation of your conference experience. The last thing you want is to realize you missed a talk on a topic you’re interested in because you didn’t check the schedule early!
Don’t Skip the Exhibition Hall
The exhibitors are there to help you learn about new products, answer questions about current products, and add a bit of fun to your conference experience. Exhibitors try to create an interesting and educational atmosphere, from games to giveaways. How you approach the exhibition depends on your needs and role in your department. If you have questions for a particular exhibitor or want to change a specific product, look through the floor map in advance to determine who you want to speak to and where they are located. If you don’t have much interest in learning about specific products, be sure to take a walk up and down all the aisles, you don’t want to be the last to know about a new product (or an awesome giveaway!).
Ask Questions
As you attend talks and learn throughout the conference, don’t hesitate to ask questions. During educational sessions, there will be an opportunity to ask questions to the speakers, don’t be shy! If you have that question, chances are, other attendees do too! If you don’t get a chance to ask the speaker during the session, don’t be afraid to ask them later or share your question with other attendees! Every attendee at the conference has something to learn and something to share. This is an opportunity to engage with people from across the world!
Know Yourself
When you create your personal conference schedule, check in with yourself to make sure you’re not overscheduled. If you’re an introvert, schedule some downtime in your hotel room or even a solo meal to recharge and prepare for the excitement to come. If you’re more extroverted, then this is your time to shine! Make sure you check the schedule for social events after the conference and during the day!
Follow Up After the Conference
Many people fail to follow up with the people they meet at conferences. Don’t let that happen to you. Connect with your new friends and acquaintances on LinkedIn and other social media. Make sure to put your new knowledge to work after the meeting! Share new information with your colleagues and department leaders to be sure everyone is up to date.