How To Get the Most Value From Your Next Conference

How to Get the Most Value from Your Next Conference

Bridge the gap between the inspiration of a conference and action back at work

By Ed Bernacki – The Idea Factory

I had not thought about how I make notes since about Grade 5 when a teacher said, ‘summarize everything I say!’. No wonder I made notes that I never looked at again? I did not realize how much I didn’t know about being an effective participant at conferences Business executive after reading this book

Do you go to conferences, take notes and never look at them again?

Think about the last conference you attended. Assess your style of participation. How effective were you? Did you:

Make notes, but never looked at them again?

Collect business cards from people that you can’t remember?

Sit through a key note speech that seemed too dull to listen to?

Attend a workshop that was not what you expected?

Put your conference materials on a shelf or in a folder and ignore them?

Have nothing to ask after a workshop?

Find a great idea and did nothing with it?

Spend most of your time with people you know?

Eat and drink more than usual?

Sleep and exercise less than usual?

Leave feeling excited about what you learned, but it was business as usual within a week?

If you answered ‘yes’ more than ‘no’, this book can help you to become a more effective conference participant. For those of you with lots of ‘no’ answers, this book can enhance your skills and insights to find great ideas at your next conference and convert them into business results.

How to Get the Most Value from Your Next Conference, Meeting or Symposium?

It’s really not hard. Here’s how:

Some key points from this book:

1. A conference is not a vacation. Why are going to the conference? Set some objectives for your attendance, participation and engagement. Even better, go to the conference with specific challenges or problems to solve.

2. Pick a good conference idea journal. Only use technology if you can capture ideas quickly and not be distracted by apps, emails, and so on. Note books were good enough for rocket scientists to put men on the moon. They are often faster and easier to use. They never run out of power.

3. Make your notes meaningful. Do not simply summarize what speakers say during presentations. You are not in school. Listen for different types of knowledge – insights, ideas, questions, references and actions. Use words, sketches, mind maps, or any tool that works for you. The key is being able to read your notes once you get back to work

4. How you will listen to speakers? Do not blame a speaker for being dull if you choose not to listen. Only motivational speakers are supposed to motivate you. Most speakers inform, educate or provoke your thinking.

5. Network with a purpose. Who do you want to meet? If you promise someone something, follow up immediately. Give ideas generously when you network. People will remember you.

6. Invest 60 minutes for a year of ideas. Create a personal ‘innovation’ plan with the insights, ideas and actions you create at the conference. Squeeze out extra value by finding useful ideas for others at work.

7. Bridge the crucial gap. The gap is between the inspiration of the conference and action on your ideas back at work. How will you bridge the gap and turn your ideas into action?

8. Do not try to fool yourself. If you do not look at your notes after the conferences, it’s highly unlikely you will act on your ideas after the event.

9. Talking about innovation does not make you innovative. Conferences are like an idea factory. Use the raw materials of the conferences to create something of value at a conference. Turn your ideas into results. Perhaps some of your ideas will become innovations.

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How To Get the Most Value From Your Next Conference

Bridge the gap between the inspiration of a conference and action back at work

Published by Ed Bernacki of the Idea Factory

Smashwords Edition Copyright 2012 Ed Bernacki

This book is one of a series written by Ed Bernacki on conference Effectiveness. For more information see http://www.EdBernacki.com or http://www.InnovativeConferences.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Association and Corporate Use of this book

This book is available in print. Both print and digital versions can help make your conferences more effective. The book can be customized for distribution prior to a conference or for training purposes. This book has been used by corporate training departments to prompt people to think about how they will participate in upcoming conferences. Email Ed Bernacki for information