E-Sourcing Forum » Conference season tips

Conference season tips

April 24th, 2008 at 08:47am Melissa Beuc - Iasta

‘Tis the season for conferences. As a conference provider and participant, it is our hope that attendees enjoy their experience and return home with some added information that will make their jobs easier. In anticipation of the upcoming conference season that includes the ISM conference and reSource ‘08, Iasta’s annual user conference, we thought we would make some suggestions for good attendee participation.

Bring business cards
If you are not in the habit of traveling, it is often easy to forget these small, yet important business documents. Hand your cards out like winning lottery tickets to everyone with whom you converse. Jot down notes about your discussion so the recipient remembers how they met you. Relationships you build at conferences will serve you well throughout your career.
It is not about the give-aways
Though most companies offer these trinkets as an incentive to visit their booth, they should not be the only reason you visit a tradeshow booth.
Network, network, network
A conference’s value comes from both the session content and the networking opportunities. Attendees should constantly network with fellow attendees and solution providers. The conference host usually provides various opportunities to network – breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails or activity. Sit next to someone different each meal. Choose a different table after a break. Don’t sit with business colleagues. Invite a speaker to talk over coffee. Collect business cards and make notes on the back so you can remember what you spoke about. Follow-up with key contacts after you get back to the office.
Strategize your sessions
Your time is limited, so make sure you pick topics that will help you learn something new. If you and a colleague are attending the same conference, go to different sessions and debrief afterwards. Schedule time with the speaker to discuss any additional questions you may have or to get more specific details.
Leave work back at the office
Often this is the hardest thing to do. Work deadlines don’t go away just because you are on a business trip. So plan ahead. Designate and communicate a backup person at least one week before leaving. Give them direction as to decision making boundaries. Schedule short-periods of time during the conference where you will respond to issues by phone. Limit logging into email during the conference because it is hard to logoff once you start.
Be prepared with specific questions and feedback
There is a lot of fast-paced activity at conferences. Take some time to think about what you want to learn. Ask specific questions one at a time, based on highest to lowest priority. This makes is easier for the respondent to address questions thoroughly.

Think about what product enhancements would be helpful and why. Describe specific case scenarios to add further clarity. As solution providers we want to continuously improve our products and gratefully welcome feedback.
Consider presenting at the next conference
The best way to learn is to teach. You improve your own skill set by presenting to your peers. Your unique insights may benefit someone else, thereby adding to the quality of the conference. And finally, presenting at a conference adds credibility to your professional reputation – both within your company, and across the industry.