Conference patterns
Get real value from conferences and events, whether you're listening, meeting people or speaking.
Conferences are expensive in time, money and energy, and it’s easy to come home exhausted with a bag of brochures and few new connections. The patterns in this area cover choosing what to attend, meeting people, and giving a talk that fits its slot.
Patterns in this area
- Leave room in the circleetiquette
At conferences and receptions people stand in closed circles, and newcomers find it awkward to join a group, while those already in a group don't know how to leave it politely.
Applies when
- people are standing and mingling during breaks or receptions
- many attendees don't know each other yet
- you want to meet new people without feeling intrusive
- Plan your conference, leave gapspreparation
A conference programme is packed with parallel sessions, and trying to see everything leaves you exhausted, scattered and with few useful conversations or notes to show for it.
Applies when
- the conference runs several sessions in parallel
- you're attending for more than half a day
- meeting people matters as much as hearing the talks
- Rehearse your talk to timepreparation
Short talks often run over, so the speaker rushes the ending, skips the key point and cuts into question time or the next speaker's slot.
Applies when
- you're giving a talk with a fixed time slot, often 5 to 20 minutes
- a session chair will keep the programme on schedule
- your audience needs to leave with one clear message