6 Tips for Navigating the Conference Environment: Engage to Expand Your Network!

Everyone has their own approach to connecting with others in professional and social settings — are you neglecting anything, though?

If there’s nothing else you take away from this article, we recommend that you stick with what works for you — above all else.

But we hope to, at the very least, provide some unique perspectives on the age old topic of conference and trade show networking.

Here are some of our favorite “ground rules” to help you get the most out of attendance at your industry meet ups.

1. Realize you share an exclusive, common bond with everyone there.

It’s like being at a party your close friend is hosting. You can go up to pretty much anyone, and they’ll most likely be open to giving you a moment of their time.

This isn’t the case in other types of social environments. Clearly it takes way more effort to produce this same kind of receptivity at a public bar.

And to extend this line of thinking out — it’s even more difficult to talk with a stranger on a public street.

Think of all the things involved with this scenario: you have to get someone’s attention, convince them you’re worthy of their attention, get them to stop and listen to you, etc.

All of this — plus the fact that you’re just a random person on the street — makes meeting people in this “random stranger” context difficult.

But engaging with people at a party or a a professional conference is different. In the case of a party, you have a social endorsement (the host invited you, for example).

In the same manner, understand that by virtue of simply attending this conference, you’re adorned with social and professional endorsements.

You’ve been vouched for, based on the fact that:

• These gatherings aren’t cheap to attend. Everyone there is successful enough that someone is paying them to be there, or that you have enough resources to sustain your presence at the event.
• So, simply by virtue of attending, you signal that you’re valuable in a similar domain and that people respect your ideas.

Take advantage of the social proof this unique environment offers to smoothly and confidently enter into conversations.

Most people at the conference with actually be relieved you approached them, and based on our experiences, you’ll likely be surprised about who you hit it off with.

2. Offer and extract value.

In the conference setting, you have better access to a concentrated amount of individuals from your domain than you would normally. These are the people you can share targeted ideas with, and the people who you can form business relationships with.

But it’s on you to make the initiative to offer and extract as much value as possible.

How can you make better conversations happen?

Talk with vendors. Don’t be afraid to take more value more than you offer — they’re literally being paid to give you attention and help you. This is increasingly the case as selling becomes more about helping the customer solve their problems and achieve their goals.

Talk with speakers who have more experience within your speciality, during Q&As and after they come off stage.

Think of problems you’re having that they would be passionate about, and ask them for advice.

They’re used to the same old questions — so, identify a unique problem you have, and ask for a structured approach that leans on their expertise. It’ll not only make them happy, but also provide you with an innovative solution to your problem.

Talk with general attendees. If you sit down 10–15 minutes before someone speaks — engage the person next to you. Ideally they are someone you have an interest in talking to, for whatever reason.

Keep in mind, again, you’ll be surprised about who you do and don’t click with.

3. Make a point to engage.

With the speaker, their material, and/or other attendees.

If it’s a sales and marketing event, for example — you can be sure there will be lots of young people going to bars each and every night.

The experience will be somewhere between a public place and private event. But with people who have similar interests and ambitions.

That’s a wonderful scenario for any budding, intelligent professional. So, make the most of it by engaging with your peers and asking them questions about what their lives are like.

4. A note on striking up conversations.

An effective rule for initiating conversations: first engage with someone, somehow, and then calibrate to their response after the fact. Don’t worry about trying to guess how they will respond to you. If you want to talk to someone, do it!

Another general guideline as the conversation plays out is this: if you feel positive social emotions (e.g. relaxed, interested), the other party will likely feel the same.

But it works the other way around as well. Which is to say, if you feel negative social emotions (e.g. discomfort, anxiety) — they’re way more likely to feel the same and want the conversation to end.

Point being: There’s no perfect time to say “Hi”. No matter how skilled of a conversationalist you are, initial one-on-one or one-on-multiple introductions have the tendency to be awkward and jarring. That’s just how it is.

As long as what comes directly after feels pleasant to both parties, that’s all that’s needed for a good conversational foundation.

5. Deal with challenges in a way that works best for you.

With such loud music, flashing lights, hundreds or thousands of people in one space, being in a foreign social environment for a week at a time — conference environments can be overwhelming.

Interest in new information, willpower to engage, and good conversations are your tools to handle this.

Here’s one other effective strategy: If you can bring along a more extroverted friend — someone who’s good at forging connections with people quickly — this is one of the most effective ways to make all of the above tips play out surprisingly well for you.

6. Explore the venue and its attendees.

Don’t stick on your co-workers. Go to different talks. Mingle with different groups at the social events.

I guarantee there are many more solo attendees than you expect. Many with similar anxieties and fears about being alone at the conference.

So help them open up — all you need to do is ask them how their day has been so far.

Enjoyed? Keep up with our new updates via Twitter!