Conference season has started at full speed. In the space of ten days, I’ve hosted Treasury Career Corner LIVE in Chicago, hosted another one in New York just six days later, and then rounded off the week at the NY Cash Exchange, where I ran a roundtable and presented alongside the brilliant Catherine Grant-Alston.
So how did I get through all that without falling into a heap?
Preparation.
Not just booking flights and hotels. I mean real preparation. Knowing my purpose before I walked into each room, planning who I wanted to meet, and making sure I had the energy to be at my best.
Too many people wander into conferences unprepared and end up wasting half the event.
I get it. Conferences can be overwhelming…
Huge rooms, packed agendas, hundreds of people milling around… and you wonder if you’ll come back with anything other than a headache (plus maybe the odd tote bag).
But the treasurers I see getting the most out of AFP, EuroFinance or ACT events do one thing differently:
They prepare with purpose.
Around this time last year, I sat down with two excellent treasurers, Nicole Meyer and Summa Simmons, and talked about how you can get the most out of conferences BEFORE you get there.
I’ve distilled it down to five points:
- Define your purpose.
Why are you going? Do you need credits? Are you after a new role? Is it just to build your network? Know what you want before you go in.
- Set clear goals.
Once you’ve established your purpose, next break it down into actionable goals. Things like “Meet 5 peers” or “Bring back 3 new ideas for the team.” Having small, specific targets will keep you focused.
- Plan backwards.
Look at the agenda now. Pick your must-attend sessions, receptions, and networking events. Then build everything else around those.
- Polish your pitch.
You’ve got 30 seconds to make an impression. Don’t just say “I’m a treasury manager at XYZ.” Add a hook. What makes you or your company unique? Try to find something people will remember.
- Don’t forget the small stuff.
Pack snacks, water, and think about when you’re at your best. If you’re sharper in the morning, then aim to get your biggest conversations in early.
So before you even pack your bags, make sure you’ve considered these…
Because if you don’t set out your intentions, you can end up spending a fortune on travel just to come home with a stack of business cards you’ll never use.
Want a ready-made version of this? Grab my free Conference Checklist and take it with you – it’ll keep you focused and make sure the trip actually pays off.
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Best regards,
Mike
P.S. You can listen to the conversation I had with Nicole Meyer and Summa Simmons here.
