Maximizing Your Return on Seminars

If you've ever walked away from a seminar muttering, "Well, that was a waste of a day," you need to plan ahead in order to get the most out of any conference you attend.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Web site, "Attending a conference should not be a passive experience; planning your attendance at a conference involves more than booking your hotel room and selecting workshops." In other words, go with an attitude of proactively participating rather than passively sitting and listening (or half-listening).

Reasons for attending conferences vary widely, from professional development to networking to expanding your area of expertise. Even if you don't have a specific goal in mind, below are some tips from the NFIB for getting the most out of your conference experience:

1. Prepare a short speech. Hone your 30-second "elevator speech" (meaning a speech that's no longer than an elevator ride) for moments during conferences when someone asks, "So, what kind of work do you do?" Practicing a 30-second pitch ahead of time helps establish a professional image.
2. Try something new. When the conference agenda arrives in the mail, read it cover to cover and choose sessions that will improve overall professionalism and performance. This is an opportunity to learn new things!
3. Partner up. Buddy with a colleague who attends different seminars and workshops. Meet at the end of the day to share what each of you learned.
4. Stay at the host hotel and stay the entire time. No one's taking attendance so you can easily arrive late and leave early—but you'll never know what you might miss by doing this. Think about staying at the hotel that the conference organizers suggest. While you might save a few bucks booking a room down the street, staying at the host hotel with everyone else gives you ample opportunities for networking.
5. Swap business cards. Make sure you take plenty of business cards because you can burn through them pretty fast. And, make sure you collect as many business cards as you can so you can follow up later with postcards, e-mails or phone calls. You may even want to bring a supply of brochures for people who would like more information about your business
6. Be an active participant, not a passive observer. Even if you're not a formal presenter, you still have something to contribute. Make sure to ask questions and make comments when the format allows. It's a great conversation starter with colleagues after the session.

Going with a plan in mind will jump-start your motivation to participate. Treat a conference as the opportunity it is, give it your all and you may be surprised at how much you take away.

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