How to Prepare for a ‘Post-Covid’ Conference in 2022
It’s time to cram enough clothes for four days into a carry-on garment bag and, if it’s your aesthetic, remind yourself how to tie a tie again! That’s right, from New York to Orlando, Atlanta to Chicago, and everywhere in-between, work conferences are back!
Despite the anxiety this inspires for many people, conferences are full of professional opportunities and, after roughly two-and-a-half years, all of us could use some in-person networking.
But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. We’ve all got some atrophy eating away at our social muscles. Plus, our favorite dress pants are a little too snug in the waist and we haven’t spent more than one night away from our pandemic puppy.
That said, some of us absolutely love in-person conferences and have been counting the days until we could once again don lanyards and small talk our hearts out (hotel and convention center operators are pretty excited too!). Yet, for others, conferences are about as appealing as a pillory.
Either way, a lot of things have changed since your last conference (QR codes, international attendees), and a lot of them haven’t (elevator pitches, business-casual attire). So, here are some important tips to keep in mind as you prepare for professional conferences in 2022, no matter your anticipation or anxiety levels.
Networking Starts with You
Whether conferences energize you or drain you to the core, they are an unavoidable and necessary fact of professional life. They make you better at your job, they make your network stronger, and they help develop your career.
At conferences, professionals:
Exchange ideas about best practices and tactics within their field and industry
Meet new contacts and set up initial meetings
Learn about the latest tools of the trade
Make connections for future job prospects
Produce social media content
Make new friends(!)
But none of this is possible if you don’t come out of your shell, take some social initiative, and start maximizing your conference experience.
At the end of the day, it may seem like a platitude, but good things happen when you know good people. In-person conferences remain the best way to go about meeting and developing relationships with those types of people. For some, this is no sweat. For others, it means pushing past the comfort zones that have been indulged since March 2020.
Practice…but Not to Make Perfect
If taking the initiative isn’t really your thing, there is absolutely no shame in practicing. Yes, this means polishing your elevator pitch, which nobody ever wants to practice but also nobody in their life ever regretted practicing.
You don’t need to memorize it word-for-word or even worry about making it perfect. You just need to get comfortable enough with it that you aren’t shying away from opportunities to talk about yourself and ask people about themselves.
So, by all means, practice some of the interactions you anticipate having. Think about how you want to describe your role, your company’s value proposition and differentiators, and industry topics you are most interested in. Also, think about what types of questions make you comfortable and likely to engage in conversation, and then practice asking those types of questions to other people.
Networking starts with you, but don’t forget to keep conversations going back and forth, not in one direction.
Here’s a networking tip... Approach people in groups of three. Single people may want to be left alone (the phone stare is a dead giveaway). Couplrs have paired off already, and four or more will have you lost in the crowd. Three is the perfect number to start a conversation with the “third wheel” in the group.
Hybrid Options Have Made Work Conferences More International
Conferences now offer hybrid attendance options, which means you can attend virtually—and not just viewing a broadcast of proceedings but actually interacting with other participants.
This hybridity has greatly expanded the international make-up of 2022’s conferences.
Attendees no longer need to travel internationally—we needn’t remind you what travel has been like these past couple of months—which means they save time and expenses while still sharing, learning and networking with other professionals.
So, as you prepare for your first big work conference of 2022, just remember: That person attending virtually might be further away than you realize. Be prepared to see ideas through a more global lens and to potentially expand your network beyond its typical cultural and geographic boundaries.
QR Codes Are a Standard Part of the New Normal
For people with jobs already back in the field—namely account executives and sales people—QR codes probably don't come as a surprise. But if you’re used to the once-a-year scramble to update your business cards before heading off to Orlando, brace yourself: Everybody uses QR codes now.
Instead of packing a brick of business cards into your carry-on, all you need these days is one neatly printed QR code on a slick and stylish single card (may we recommend a matte sheen?).
It’s easier than you might think. Simply make an account, generate a code, and print with a smart card provider (there are many!). The code links to your profile, including your social media accounts, your company’s website, and your contact information. It also allows people to reciprocate and share their digital card with you.
Don’t be the lone analogue attendee still filling people’s pockets with cardboard. You will thank us later.
Some Final Thoughts
So much has changed with conferences since March 2020, but some things have stayed exactly the same.
It’s still a good idea to start connecting ahead of time with conference attendees by using conference-affiliated hashtags. It’s still a good idea to dress for comfort and style alike (always remember to bring a light sweater for those chilly session rooms). And it’s still a good idea to keep the partying to a minimum—nobody likes a sloppy conference drunk.
Yes, for the socially anxious among us, conferences in 2022 are a return to normal they hoped they’d never see again. But no matter your perspective and comfort level, conferences aren’t going anywhere, and you will probably be going to one soon.
So, rehearse your elevator pitch and ice-breakers, get your QR codes ready, and practice tying your tie (if that’s your thing!). You will get as much out of conferences as you put in.