Do you like to attend professional events? Many of us have a love/hate relationship with them. But after three years of Zoom-a-thons, there?s magic to meeting in real life. And those impromptu yet meaningful conversations, typically don?t happen online.
When you?re searching for something new like a job, client, or career path, you can build deeper connections more quickly in person. Relationships, that will supercharge your goals. But the long days and commutes disrupt family time, sleep, and deep work. So, how do you make showing up worth the complexity? Well, that depends on your objectives. Before you register for that next event, consider these strategies to ease the stress, and improve your outcomes.
Decide How You Really Feel About Going (And Why)
Are you counting down the days with excitement or dreading your next conference? Emotions influence everything, including how you show up. Dr. Charmain Jackman, Psychologist and CEO of InnoPsych says, ?Some people didn?t like social situations prior to Covid. But people experience a real benefit to having social connection. It?s part of who we are as human beings. And it can be a dose of happiness and joy that you didn’t expect in that moment"
Align the Time With Your Goals
Is the event set up to deliver what you want? In December I went to an industry gathering to network. But when I arrived, it felt more like a wedding than a meeting. The lights were dim and music was loud. So, after trying to chat with a few people, I had to let the idea of networking go. Did I enjoy myself once I started dancing? Why yes. But had I known what kind of event it was, I probably wouldn?t have gone. It was a Friday evening, time I cherish with my kids and use to recharge. So, if you?re not sure about an event?s structure, ask the organizers if it?s conducive to your goals.
Clear Your Schedule in Advance
How many times have you reached that conference, only to spend half the time managing emails or fielding calls? There isn?t really anything wrong with doing that, but you can do that anywhere. Of course, time sensitive needs will come up. But when you?ve spent the money, time, and energy to be in person, prioritize presence. You can meet incredible people that influence your career or life. If it?s not possible to go “out of office” based on your priorities, then consider skipping the event. And focusing on meetings or deep work instead.
Make Space For Follow Up
If you went to an event to build your business, or find a better job, then follow up is essential for a return on your time. So, block your calendar the day after an event, for follow up activities if possible. Organize those physical and electronic business cards and don?t forget about the conference badge photos! Use LinkedIn, to stay connected with people you want to add to your network longer term.
And if you promised to share information or arrange a meeting, send a note, ideally within 48 hours. Professional events can lead to wonderful friendships too. So, if you met people who feel like new besties, arrange time to reconnect for a virtual or real coffee.
And Ongoing Relationship Building
Find a system for ongoing contact that works for you. Juliette Mayers, DEI Consultant and Author of Strategic Networking 2.0, recommends grouping your connections. She said, ?The three tiers that I outline in my book are: your inner circle contacts, high value contacts and moderate value contacts. And I define those and so you can sort them according to the degree of trust and a number of other dimensions. You can look at your relationships through this prism and develop strategies for each of them"
Adapt Your Health Routines to Maintain Stamina
We?re still in the midst of cold and flu season. Which doesn?t exactly make long hours, travel, or time spent with lots of people, easier. But you can stay conscious of what you need to be as healthy as possible. Especially when you?re shaking hands and giving hugs. Even when you travel, plan time for activities at the top of the Mom?s Hierarchy of Needs. Like your rest, hydration, stress management, nutrition, and movement. It might mean an ultra-quick workout, early meditation or walk outside when the break starts.
Monitor your water intake, to stay hydrated. And if you?re traveling, bring pro or prebiotics to boost your immune system. Instead of waiting for the dessert tray, if you?ve honored your intentions for the event, leave before it ends. Go home or back to your hotel to unwind and optimize for restorative sleep.
Know Your Event Limit
Sometimes the line between enough and too much is difficult to find. How many events can you realistically handle? Many productivity experts recommend a calendar audit. Where you look back at your calendar from the previous quarter, or year, to reflect on what served you.
You may remember why you felt really overwhelmed at certain times. Or when the number or nature of your activities felt out of alignment, with health, career, or family needs. So, give yourself a goal of X amount per Y time frame. Then you can enjoy the benefits of events without feeling drained.
Come up With a Childcare Strategy
Conferences are usually not at family-friendly times. And depending on the age and independence of your children, it’s either inconvenient or very disruptive. So, come up with a childcare strategy. If you are partnered, block the time on the family calendar in advance and discuss expectations while you?re away. And by that, I mean, be direct about not wanting to come home to chaos and which activities are critical.
If you have a paid caregiver and can extend her time, to cover an earlier start or evening assistance, that?s great. If your employer provides back-up care as a benefit, you can access local vetted sitters at a subsidized rate. If your employer has made an event mandatory, ask to have your extra childcare costs reimbursed. If none of those options are accessible, consider swapping a favor with a trusted friend or neighbor for coverage.
A Meal Strategy (if You’re the Meal Person)
If the event is going to run until the evening, even if you?re technically home by dinner, starting from scratch if you?re on point for meals, is probably the last thing you want. So, tee up a meal plan ahead of time. If you are partnered, delegate dinner. There are other options too. If you are a fan of the slow cooker, then set something up in advance for when you get back or make leftover magic. If you have takeout options that are affordable and enjoyable, that?s fine too. But whatever ?it? is, plan it so, it?s not on your mental load the day of your outing.
And a ?School to Home? Strategy
It?s not a secret that Moms still ?own? the overwhelming majority of household work, childcare and planning. So, take every opportunity to reduce your to-do list. If your children are school aged and there are weekly forms like reading logs, or homework that needs to be reviewed, this might be a great opportunity to permanently reassign those responsibilities, if you are partnered. You have to adjust things when you travel or spend days attending a conference. But you do not need to return to the same task list.
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Many thanks to the talented Dr. Charmain Jackman!
Follow Charmain’s great adventure on?her website,?Twitter, Facebook and Instagram"
Dr. Charmain F. Jackman, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist of Barbadian heritage and the Founder & CEO of InnoPsych, Inc. Growing up in a culture where the stigma of mental health was pervasive, but therapists of color were not, she decided that she was going to change that. Dr. Jackman has spent the last 20 years working with people of color (POC) in hospitals, clinics, courts and schools, and has consistently observed that POCs long for therapists who look like them?who understand them and who will do right by them! That knowledge has inspired Dr. Jackman to make it easier for POC to find therapists of color! She also wants to change the negative views of therapy and to educate POC about the necessity of taking care of their mental health and to empower communities to heal.
And many thanks to the talented Juliette Mayers!
Check out her amazing book, Strategic Networking 2.0: Harness the Power of Connection and Inclusion for Business Success"And follow Juliette?s great adventure on?her website, LinkedIn and?Twitter.
Juliette Mayers is host of Entering the Inspiration Zone, a podcast for business
professionals seeking positive connection and professional development, and has been
featured in Forbes, Advertising Age, the Boston Globe, and Boston Business Journal
and on numerous TV stations. She motivates and inspires audiences through her
keynotes and workshops on strategic networking, effective cross-cultural collaboration,
unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, personal branding, and women?s leadership. A
member of the Forbes Coaches Council and a fellow at Simmons Institute for Inclusive
Leadership, Mayers is a distinguished alumna of Simmons Graduate School of
Management, where she earned her MBA, and Northeastern University, where she
earned her BS in marketing.
