Apologies for not writing over the past few days: I’ve been in Brisbane attending the Future Summit. It was an ambitious event, but I was heartened to see the number of young people invited. I thought it might be useful to go through some of the lessons I’ve learnt as a result of attending this event and other similar large-scale conferences. These events are often difficult for young people to navigate, so if you’re lucky enough to get to attend one, I’ve compiled some useful tips to help make the experience as easy and rewarding as possible. Five tips today (in no particular order); the next five tomorrow.
- Ensure your business cards and nametag are interesting
If you are attending a large conference, business cards are a must. Everyone else will have them, and when you’re offered one and don’t return the favour, you’ll look haughty or amateurish. Cards come cheap nowadays (you can get 1000 full colour cards – which will last you a long time – on good quality stock for about $200) so you’ve no excuse. If you move around a bit as many young people do, make sure your card has your name, city, email and mobile number, which can all move with you (your postal address and home telephone number, which are tied down to physical locations, are probably unnecessary). You’d do well to pick a conservative design, too.Most conferences will provide you with a nametag. If you hold positions with numerous organisations, request that you are listed under your most interesting, relevant role. This is the role which provides the best opportunity to start conversations with other delegates: it should be where you’ve done your most impressive work, and which offers the best opportunities to relate to the experiences of other participants. The details on your nametag will be associated with you during and after the conference, so there is considerable value in getting this correct.
- Networks are the most important outcome
There is often an eagerness to look for conferences to provide outcomes that are project-based or launchpads to further, collective activity. Generally, this eagerness is misplaced. The most useful conferences bring together people with broad responsibilities, who are often very busy, and unable to commit to further activity. Unless the conference is specifically aimed at producing a project as a result, the most important outcomes will be the informal networks that form between delegates. Go into the conference expecting to meet interesting people and have interesting conversations, rather than with an aim to launch joint projects. - Know who you want to talk to
Upon registration, many conferences will provide you with a delegate list, which includes the names, positions and sometimes further biographical information of participants. Read this list, become familiar with it, and know whom you want to talk to. Large conferences are great for serendipitous conversations, but picking a few people who you want to talk to will make for a more productive and interesting experience. - No one is as inaccessible as you think
Further to the last point: don’t discount someone just because they hold a senior position within their organisation. Whilst it would be foolish to target a person simply because of their seniority, if you do have a legitimate reason to talk to those with significant responsibility, don’t let yourself talk yourself out of it. Young people are especially prone to negative self-talk when amongst those who are older and who have had more experience, but remember that your selection and participation in the conference means that the people with the best view of it all – the organisers – have chosen you to participate. You have a right to be there, and you are expected to make valuable contributions to the discussion. Don’t be afraid to approach those with senior positions. There is no doubt that they’ve talked to more people with more junior positions than yourself. - Introductions are easier the sooner you make them
Breaking conversation circles and introducing yourself cold to the participants is a difficult experience – it makes everyone a little nervous. But remember that if you don’t do it early on, it will only become more difficult as the groups solidify and people begin to become more and more comfortable to those who they’ve already met. The best time to introduce yourself to someone who seems interesting is as soon as possible. Just do it.
Stay tuned for the next five tomorrow!
