CLINICAL

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Own Meet and Greets

Five tips to maximize your time at conferences and events

ALANA MULLER, GUEST COLUMNIST JEFFRY D. GERSON, O.D., F.A.A.O.

It can be critically important for physicians to be seen as active, engaged members of the community — both locally and on a national/global scale — if they want to grow their patient base, gain access to clinical trials or seek opportunities for personal or professional growth. One way to accomplish this is to make the most of conferences and events.

Here are suggestions to ensure these activities are as productive for you as possible.

1 Prepare

Prior to the conference/event you will be attending, identify the speakers and participants whom you must meet, and reach out to these individuals in advance. Pursue them, but don’t stalk or chase them … There are always other individuals with whom you can make a connection.

By connecting with someone prior to the conference, you might be able to make more efficient use of your time at the event itself so that you are not searching for the person for that initial introduction. Instead of sheepishly walking around looking at nametags, you can pick a pre-determined spot or meal at which to meet and talk with your new (or previously established) contact.

2 Be present, and force yourself to engage

Plan to attend every breakout session, every meal, etc. As a participant, remember that you are not (necessarily) there to hear the speakers (as great as they may be); you are there to connect with others. Make the connections your priority, not the presentations.

3 Dine with new contacts at every meal

Never sit with the same people more than once. Once you pick a seat, go around the table, say hello, and introduce yourself. Breaking bread with others is one of the fastest ways to break the ice.

4 Be prepared with questions

Questions, especially of the open-ended variety, are your secret weapon when it comes to starting conversations. Come prepared with an arsenal of questions to generate dialogue, and be equipped to answer these questions yourself so you can contribute to the discussion, too. Example questions:

► Where are you based?

► Whom do you serve? Tell me about your practice.

► How did you learn about this event?

► What do you hope to get out of this event?

► How can I help?

5 Follow up

Take note of the meaningful conversations you had, and follow up with those individuals after the event. Remember, you are attending the event to set the stage, NOT to conduct business. Business can come later. Use this time to plant seeds, get to know people, and begin to form authentic connections.

Putting it all together

With a little preparation, practice and gumption, you will become a conference/event-attending expert. You’ll develop long-lasting connections to help you and your practice thrive. OM

MS. MULLER IS AUTHOR OF COFFEE LUNCH COFFEE: A PRACTICAL FIELD GUIDE FOR MASTER NETWORKING AND THE COMPANION BLOG, COFFEELUNCHCOFFEE.COM. SHE IS A FREQUENT LECTURER AND WORKSHOP FACILITATOR ON NETWORKING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WOMEN IN BUSINESS. SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO FORBES.COM AND THE HUFFINGTON POST, AMONG OTHER PUBLICATIONS. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @ALANAMULLER.