You may be wondering if it's worth it to attend these healthcare conferences in person. In my more than 30 years attending dozens of conferences and trade shows, answering the following questions in advance has helped me get the most out of the investment of time and money:
- Why are you going?
This might seem obvious, but then again, spending a little time really considering your goals for attending can sharpen your focus. Do you have specific objectives you’re trying to achieve? Are you looking for inspiration and fresh thinking? What kind of information, connections or takeaways will you gain? What insights and benefits can you provide your organization? - Who do you want to see/meet/engage with?
If at all possible, set up meetings in advance. Find out who else is going, and get in touch with them beforehand to set up coffee, lunch, drinks or dinner. Getting “face time” with peers, colleagues or potential partners can make the whole trip worthwhile. Don’t just cross your fingers and hope you run into them or that they’ll be available at the last minute. Making it official can go a long way toward building a stronger relationship. - What sessions do you plan to attend? What’s your second choice for each time slot?
Spending the time in advance to really plan out which sessions are of most interest can ensure you make the most of your time at the conference. Having a back-up plan for each time slot can turn out to be really helpful if the first choice session turns out to be less than you imagined or if you were otherwise thwarted. If you’re traveling with colleagues, compare notes so important sessions get covered and you can share learnings among your team and with leadership or other departments when you return. - What will you do differently after returning home? (How will you know it was worth it?)
This requires some pre-thinking as well. Do you have a plan for following up with new contacts? For sharing and integrating new learning or actions into your team meetings? Schedule time on your calendar for the weeks after returning to process and synthesize and create an action plan to put your newfound techniques, concepts and contacts into play.
I’ll be attending SHSMD in San Antonio September 19-21; HMPS in Miami October 6-8, and HCIC in Las Vegas Nov. 2-4.
