How to Attend a Conference

I think I want to Attend a Conference this Year...What do I do?

Consider the Following:

• CONTENT:
• Teamphoria Coaching Guides have now been uploaded with recommended conferences by career track level or area of employment

• SME or Niche Group Affiliation

• AGENDA - Is this good information I need to bring back to TW?

• BUDGET: Every person now has an annual conference budget

Example - FP I Coaching Guide:

How Do I do it?

Your Conference Journey Begins....

Loop Natalie in for travel arrangements, if needed

Review prospective conference - Discuss agenda with coach or SME

Post-Conference

Pre-Conference

Decide

Plan the Trip

Conference

Logistics

Budget

Is this in my budget?

Mark your calendar, arrange for coverage, review upcoming meetings; be a responsible adult

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Start to Prepare for the Conference

Get Ready!

Start a File

Download Agenda and/or App

Start Scheduling

Identify Vendors & Contacts

Schedule important sessions

You will log contacts, travel info, agenda, conf. materials,

Big conferences will have an app for you to organize your time.

Review agenda; add time in your schedule to meet with them

Bring Business Cards

Practice Your Elevator Speech

Set Goals

I.e. # of contacts to make

More on this in "Attending the Conference"

Set up time with Patrick to role play

At the Conference

Tips for Successful Conference-Going

Know Where You're Going

Arrive Early & Be Comfortable

Take a look at the floor plan and familiarize yourself with the agenda and where you need to be to meet with contacts.

Take Notes

STAY OFF OF EMAIL

Be present.

.doc in shared drive, handwritten notes, iPad, in-app notes, **email yourself presentations as they become available

"Live within the day"

Build Relationships

Build Relationships

• Many opportunities to meet with members of the industry:
• Happy Hours
• Dinners
• Lunches
• **Do NOT sit with the same people; mix it up

• Meet with Vendors
• Gather knowledge (strategically)
• Take handouts (or take pictures of them)

The Conversation

Remember the relationship-building techniques Patrick taught you!

• Start the Conversation - Ask Questions Like:

• Where are you from?

• What type of firm do you work for?

• What's your favorite client?

• REMEMBER THE PEOPLE YOU MEET

• Generally 3 types of people: Information source/someone who can help you, someone you can help, or peer

• Take a note on their business card of the person and context

• Update LinkedIn live, when appropriate.

Live Within the Day

Once your day of conference-going is complete, close out the day by:

• Emailing New Contacts

• Documenting Action Items

• Downloading Materials

Post - Conference

Submit expenses via Expensify

Set up time with SME group, coach, niche group, etc. to share what you learned.

Discuss appropriate medium to share information with firm

• Pop up learning
• Lunch n Learn
• Handouts/Marketing

Pro Tips

Expensify

Snacks

Gym Time

Trip It

Simplify Travel

Bring Them

Plan It

Use the App

Upload expenses as you go!

If you have a fridge, bring healthy snacks or stock the fridge when you get there.

Scout out fitness facility and plan your workouts within the conference agenda.

Trip it will hold your flight itinerary, hotel reservations, and more, in one consolidated schedule.

Questions and Concerns

Any tips that you would like to share?