As a seminar junkie, I have attended many, many training programs. And as a trainer for over 20 years, I have been in front of 1,000s of students.
Some people come prepared to make the most out of their time in a seminar and some just show up.
Following are ten things that will make your investment of your money and more importantly your time used the best way possible.
1. Bring a pad and a pen.
I can not tell you the number of attendees that I see show up with nothing other than the smile on their face. Be prepared to take notes and lot of them.
2. Create a to-do and aha page.
Start with a blank piece of paper and draw a line vertically down the center from the top to the bottom. On the left side at the top write the words to-do. On the right side at the top write aha.
Periodically throughout the program, stop to see what you can do and note what you can implement (to-do's) and ahas (the light goes on-an epiphanous moment) that came to you during the program.
3. Create a Conference Notes file.
Create a file folder into which you place all the notes from the conferences you attend. Think about taking the conference workbooks and tear out the most relevant pages and put them in the folder too.
Many of us have "smart bookcases" on which reside the tombs that we have been given from the programs that we have attended. And we are too busy to dig through the workbooks to find that one idea that we remember hearing.
Put the really good stuff in the folder. It will be easier and quicker to find.
4. Take a stack of business cards to pass out
Pass out cards (and more importantly get business cards) from all those at the table where you eat lunch or dinner. Put your cards in one pocket and the cards you receive in another pocket. Don't mix them up. It is embarrassing to dig out and pass on the someone else's card.
Also, consider making a note or two on the back of the cards you get so you can personalize your thank you note. See number 5 below.
5. Make this your goal.
Assume that you are going to learn the material presented at the conference. Make your goal to build your network/database. Have a goal of getting as many business cards as you can. Not giving.
Then when you return home or in the evening at a multi-day event, send a thank you note to those whom you met. It will surprise and delight them. You will clearly stand out from the crowd. Recall how many notes you have ever received after a conference or convention. Even from a vendor who was trying to secure your business.
6. Invest in the recorded programs, especially of those that you did not attend.
Buy the recorded tapes/CDs from the sessions to listen to while you are driving around after you return home. Repeated listening is very powerful. It will make the material yours. It will be much easier to implement the ideas both new and material you have already heard if you hear the material often..
There are recorded programs that I have listened to many times to remember. Every time I listen to a program, I learn something new. The ideas are the same but I am in a different place. This difference makes the concepts available to you in a new way.
7. Don't go chasing the cheapest non-conference hotel rate.
Stay at the conference hotel. That is where all the action is or at least begins. The networking begins there.
8. Be on-duty while at the conference.
You and/or your company paid for you to attend. Be present at the seminars, luncheons, dinners and cocktail hours. Stay coherent. You are representing yourself and your company. You may meet your future boss or a new employee that you have been seeking.
9. Return calls and check messages between sessions and/or when on breaks
Other than that be present and available while you are in a session. Put your cell phone on stun or turn it off. Pay attention to the session you are attending.
The speaker would not be hired if they were not good. Get all you can. You deserve it.
10. Be a good attendee
Ask pointed questions that are on-topic. Don't ask questions that are off point to where the speaker is at the moment. Raise you hand and wait. Please have respect and be patient until you are called on to ask your question.
To your continued success,
Reg Gupton
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