Attending a professional conference can be a powerful way to expand your network, showcase your expertise, and open doors to new opportunities. However, the benefits don’t come automatically. The key is thoughtful preparation. Here are actionable tips to ensure you maximize your time and investment at your next conference:

1. Strategize Your Connections – Make a Target List:Review the attendee and speaker lists before the conference. Identify the people you want to connect with—aim high! This could include industry leaders, potential mentors, or collaborators.
2. Research and Prepare:Learn about their work, challenges, or interests. This preparation will enable you to ask insightful, specific questions demonstrating your knowledge and genuine interest.
3. Craft Your Conversation Starters:Unique and Relevant Questions: Think beyond clichés. Prepare questions that allow others to share their expertise and shine. For example, instead of asking, “What do you do?” try, “I saw your recent work on [specific project/topic]. What inspired that direction?”
4. Be Ready to Listen:While preparation is crucial, listening during sessions or conversations can help you craft more thoughtful, relevant questions.
5. Polish Your Personal Presentation – Dress with Intention:Your attire communicates before you speak. Choose clothing that aligns with your professional goals and sends the right message.
6. Add a Conversation Piece:Consider a unique accessory, such as a printed tie, a bold scarf, or a lapel pin. These small touches can spark easy conversations and help you stand out.
7. Be Prepared to Speak ‘The Language of Benefit’ – Focus on Value:Be ready to articulate how who you are or what you do is beneficial to the person you’re speaking with. Why should they listen to you or care about what you’re saying? If you can’t find a reason, it’s best not to engage.  Example: Instead of saying, “I’m a software developer,” you could say, “I help companies streamline their operations by creating custom software solutions that save time and reduce errors.” This reframes your role in terms of the benefit it provides.
8. Be Strategic in Sessions – Prioritize Key Sessions:Aim to attend talks by the most well-known speakers or on topics that align with your goals. Arrive early to secure a good seat and prepare to ask a thoughtful question.
9. Have Backup Questions:If someone else asks your question, have a second one ready. This ensures you’re still able to engage meaningfully.
10. Make Every Conversation Count – Wrap Up with an Action:Don’t let the conversation end without a next step. A simple but effective close is, “May I connect with you on LinkedIn?” Set a specific follow-up, like sending an article or scheduling a call if appropriate.
11. Remember, It’s Just the Beginning – Focus on the Long Game:Conversations with important leaders are just the starting point. When handled well, they can lead to future engagements.
12. Keep It Simple:Avoid launching into a full business idea or plan during an initial interaction. Instead, offer a teaser and ask for another meeting.
13. Build Credibility and Trust:Earning trust takes time and effort. Use the face-to-face opportunity at conferences as a powerful foundation for deeper relationships.
14. Maximize ROI:The Power of Preparation. Conferences require significant investment in time, energy, and money. To make the most of it: Plan Who to Meet: Don’t leave networking to chance.
15. Prepare What to Say:Tailor your questions and conversations to stand out.
16. Think Ahead:From your attire to your follow-up actions, intentionality ensures you leave a lasting impression.

With thoughtful preparation, you’ll turn a simple conference into a launchpad for meaningful connections and career growth. Don’t just attend—excel!

Tip #1: Enhance Your Professionalism Through Thoughtful Greetings and Endings Want to project more confidence in professional settings? Start by mastering your greetings. Instead of casual “Hey” or “What’s up,” opt for formal greetings like “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” These greetings convey respect and instantly elevate the tone. For instance, swap “Hey, how’s it going?” with “Good morning, how are you today?” This subtle shift can make a big difference, highlighting your professionalism and attentiveness.      Remember, a formal closure is equally important. Instead of a casual “All right, see ya!” try “Thank you for your time today, [name]. I appreciate it.” While it may seem like a minor detail, incorporating these simple yet powerful greetings can significantly boost your professional image and communication skills. Try it in your next professional interaction.

Tip #2: Don’t tip the scales with data-heavy presentations In my work with high-performing C-level leaders in financial services, I’ve noticed a common pitfall in presentations: an overload of data. While data is crucial for establishing credibility, incorporating personal elements like stories, examples, and appropriate humor is key. Connecting on a human level alongside expertise is vital for engagement and impact.      Research from Scientific American highlights how people’s brain waves can synchronize during interaction. This synchronization reflects a deeper connection beyond words, shaping how we interpret and respond to shared experiences. Read the full study here.Remember: embracing imperfection, adding spontaneity, and revealing vulnerabilities can make presentations more relatable and memorable. Building trust through authenticity is fundamental for fostering strong relationships.

Tip #3: Think about the required level of preparation.I particularly enjoy supporting high-performing companies during their annual global meetings. Our clients often wonder, “How much preparation should you do?” The short answer: your preparation should match the importance of the event. For a quick 2-minute update or an informal meeting with trusted colleagues, a few minutes of prep might suffice. For a high-stakes meeting where you want to demonstrate trusted-advisor leadership, begin preparing at least two weeks in advance.    Remember: there are no strict rules, but adequate preparation is crucial to appear confident, speak confidently, and build trust. Your effort will pay off in making a lasting impression.

Tip #4: Don’t play Hot Potato when answering questions In a recent one-on-one coaching session with a senior executive, we discussed a common tendency when getting a question lobbed at you. Many of us, including this Executive, tend to answer extremely fast and then lob it back. We laughed when we realized how similar it is to the children’s game ‘Hot Potato.’

Does anyone remember that game? When I was a kid, we played with a balled-up sock, so it was as low-tech as you could get! The goal was to throw back the “potato” as soon as it was tossed your way to stay safe when the rhyme finished. (“…If you have the hot potato, YOU-ARE-IT!”)    If you answer a question immediately and barely even take a moment to pause, you are missing an opportunity to show thoughtfulness and share an insightful response. The goal is NOT to answer fast and get the spotlight off you! By not rushing to throw the ‘potato,’ you value the conversation and the person asking the question. Remember, your role as a listener is just as important as a speaker in fostering a meaningful discussion. Instead, when you are asked a question: Listen, pause, think, THEN respond.       The pause can be short; 1-3 seconds helps you gain composure. No hot potato toss is needed. Take your time.

Tip #5: Add Reflection Points to your company meetingsAs an executive coach, I love exploring topics people haven’t considered until they take a moment to slow down and reflect. It’s like meeting with a trainer at the gym and taking time to consider your short- and long-term goals Recently, I spoke with a successful IT executive who shared his strategy to make meetings more productive. He does a regular “tech overhaul” and thinks about why the meeting is important and whether it could be executed in a way other than as a meeting. He calls these “Reflection Points.”

Adding brief reflection points to your agenda can make meetings more intentional, efficient, and impactful.

As a communication coach, I help people speak clearly and connect with their listeners. When we’re explaining something technical, an idiom can make the message easier to grasp. And when we’re trying to make a point without sounding too direct, an idiom can paint a vivid picture.

But here’s the catch: idioms can backfire. If they’re unfamiliar or confusing, the speaker ends up working harder to get the message across, and risk losing trust or credibility in the process.

Idioms and stories both simplify complex ideas, and create mental pictures for the listener. An idiom is like compressed wisdom, a quick phrase that assumes shared understanding. A story, on the other hand, builds that understanding by showing the lesson in action. While idioms are fast and familiar, they can confuse if the listener doesn’t know the reference. Stories take a little more time, but they invite connection and leave a deeper impact. If an idiom is a spark, a story is the fire that keeps people listening.

An idiom is a phrase or expression with a meaning different from the literal words. For example, “spill the beans” means to reveal a secret, but if someone hasn’t heard that phrase before, it can leave them puzzled.

A recent Wall Street Journal article, “The Ford Executive Who Kept Score of Colleagues’ Verbal Flubs,” highlights how even experienced professionals can misuse idiomatic language, leading to confusion or unintentional humor. Mike O’Brien, a sales executive at Ford, kept track of over 2,000 verbal flubs from colleagues, phrases like “Let’s not reinvent the ocean,” or “I don’t want to sound like a broken drum here.” These moments show how tricky idioms can be when they miss the mark.

While idioms can add color and personality to our speech, they may also leave some listeners behind, especially if they’re from a different part of the world, or even just a different cultural background.

Misunderstood phrases can subtly erode our credibility and make it harder to build trust.

To communicate more clearly and inclusively:

1. Be mindful of your listeners: Consider whether your audience will understand the idioms you use. When in doubt, leave it out.
2. Use idioms wisely: They can be great tools, but only if they support your message and are easy to follow.
3. Encourage feedback: Invite questions and clarification. That openness builds connection and shows respect.

Being intentional with your language helps you connect rather than confuse. The goal is always to be understood and to make your listeners feel included.