Away we go

The National Association of Workforce Boards Forum started this weekend in Washington, D.C. Worksystems is blogging from there.

I attended the Forum in 2007, when snowstorms stranded some presenters trying to fly in and made leaving the hotel/convention an adventure.

From that experience and other conventions, I follow these rules:

1. Plan early. It is always better to stay in the hotel that the convention is held in. You'll be more likely to stick around for evening events, it's easier to get to the opening sessions, and you save time by not shuttling between sites.
2. Cover more ground: pick up materials from the presentations you can't attend (sometimes they are available online later), divide staff between presentations if you are going with a group, and if a presentation sounds interesting but doesn't address your project specifically, don't rule it out.
3. Go to the social events in the morning and evening. They provide more time for connections than you have in between sessions. Don't stay out too late.
4. After the first day, dress as comfortably as you can get away with while still looking professional. It'll be easier to make it through the long days.
5. Make use of break times and refreshments for staying focused. Say yes to free ice cream!
6. Leave the office at the office. Check in at established times, if necessary, but try hard not to be interrupted or distracted during the day. Leave the cell phone and laptop in your room if you need to.
7. Make an effort to find out what others do and think, and less of an effort of telling them what you do and think.
8. Don't forget your business cards.
9. When you get home, follow up on presenters and topics by seeking them out online and at the library.