You're at a trade show and need to develop your leadership skills. What's the best way to do it?

For the love of GOD, if you're in your booth, stay off your phone, or any other device. You can start there with being a leader for your team. You knew this trade show/event was coming for 6-8 months, most likely longer. If the email, or phone call is that important, walk away from your booth. Even if it's the last day and the last few hours which are always slow.

Working Tradeshows properly is not for the light hearted. Clear goals and expectations are a must. It is very costly to exhibit at most shows so you cannot afford to not be prepared. As a leader you must set expectations for your team. Engagement and energy in the booth is contagious. You must set the tone and let the team and the customers feed off your positive energy. Active engagement and a smile goes a long ways, but must be done with professionalism so not to come off as pushy or even creepy. You and your team have to want to be there and be excited about your company and your product. ENERGY DRIVES ACTIVITY…

Leaders lead. If you're there to develop your leadership skills, you need to position yourself as a leader before you show up. That means reaching out to industry leaders and key customers before the event and trying to put yourself in their circle. Think about what leaders in your industry wear and dress the part. Make a plan for the show - are you there to find a mentor? Have you signed up for sessions that specifically focus on leadership development? Research to find out where the people that you want to approach are going to be. Then put your game face on and go get 'em!

You're at a trade show for one main reason; to talk to potential clients about your company, your products, how you can help them in their business. You are NOT at the trade show to chat to your colleagues, drink coffee with your mates, occupy a seat at the bar, hunker down at your laptop avoiding eye contact, sit at a table hoping prospects will come to you. Lead by example. Acknowledge everyone who you make eye contact with, stand outside the confines of your stand, introduce yourself and look for prospects' names, usually on a name badge. Scan every visitor and have a set patter to kick things off. Ask about pain points, limit chats to 5-10 minutes, ensure that you have contact information, promise a follow up date. NEXT! Hi, I'm Barry..

Leadership begins long before you step on the show floor. Meet with your team periodically ahead of a trade show to establish objectives and develop a strategy for achieving them. Clearly communicate your expectations, but also let your team know that you are approachable and available to support them. Conduct a pre-show kick-off with your onsite staff to reiterate the plan and conduct daily check-ins to keep everyone focused and on task. Also use that time to make adjustments if necessary.

Delegation and empowerment is only possible if you ENABLE your team members to develop their potential by granting access to all relevant information, set the right framework to grow in, and give clear instructions and expectations BEFOREHAND. People thrive in healthy environments that are based on trust, clear communication and with leaders that lead by example - don’t expect people to engage in their work and tasks - in trade shows or any other business environment - if you yourself are not willing to go the extra mile and go it together with them and for the team.

The above contributions are already self explanatory and sets a clear goal for the task and distribute the responsibilities according to the potential. It's also important to check the potential of certain person through delegation of different tasks. For example in a trade show there might be a person who is from operations background, so let the marketing guy take the lead and approach to the key officials. It will give them both opportunities as well as confidence to get themselves prepared for multitasking skills.

Lead by example, but also allow those around you and on your team to shine. Give them the opportunity to learn through wins and failures. Only step in when it is clear you are needed or the situation calls for it. Be the leader you would want to have.

Make sure everyone know what is expected of them, what their role is during the trade show and what outcomes they should be working towards. Make extra sure you have given them all the tools they need to do their bit: from product knowledge to business cards and training upfront. Once you have prepared them for the event, you can empower them to do what is needed at the actual event. Get them to problem-solve as and when needed, with your guidance and support. And most importantly, give them constructive feedback on what they do well or where they can improve. We all learn through trial and error, give them a safe but well-prepared 'space' to learn and grow.

Une bonne préparation en amont est indispensable. Trop souvent, les personnes d’un stand sont cloisonnées à une seule tâche/activité/produit, mais attention, un selon c’est beaucoup de temps morts et de grosses vagues de monde alors mieux vaut être prêt : briefing produit, questions de qualification du besoin, et si vous n’êtes pas spécialiste, gagnez du temps et trouvez un code pour qu’un collègue vienne à votre secours 🙃

Be open and resourceful and willing to share your network. Meet new people you never know who will be your next partner or collaborator.

When you network, distance yourself from the mentality of trying to make a sale. You're there to build your personal brand as much as to build awareness for the company you're there to represent. The people you network with should lead you to fruitful connections in the future.

I’ve found that networking is very important, but learning on the show floor was even more important. Learning and connecting with the people that are responsible for making these events happen is extremely helpful. Putting yourself in a position not only to do your job, but have a better understanding what other jobs need to get done gives you great insight on other skillsets. Also, everyone doing their part and coming together as a team to achieve one goal gives you a sense of great accomplishment.

Remember, the customers paid to be there and buy from you! Don’t miss the opportunity. Leaders need to show their team how to engage with current and potential customers. Networking with customers, other brands, and their customers, at dinners and events is priceless. Always good to divide the team amongst multiple opportunities. Don’t put your whole team in one room with only a few customers…the Koolaid is too strong and brand’s team is too tribal to make a good lasting impression. Spread your team around and have an intel session before the next day of the show. It’s often illuminating what you’ll learn and your team will understand the value of tradeshows.

If you don't typically initiate conversations with strangers, now's the perfect time to forge connections with people who already share some common ground. Step out of your comfort zone! - At registration, ask the person beside you if it's their first time at the conference. - Connect on LinkedIn with speakers from the seminars you attend. Make sure to send a connect-the-dots message with your request. (For example, "I was at your XXX session and thought your take on XXX was really insightful. I'd love to have you in my professional network") Then keep the conversation going! - Check out name badges & use the info to start a conversation. ("I see you're from XXX. I grew up there!") - Be friendly & approachable. Smile & make eye contact!

Being flexible is key as things do not always go as planned. It is a great opportunity to take the lead and proactively solve unexpected issues.

Be ready and willing to pitch in and help with any task in any location especially when everyone is 100% committed to jobs that must be completed to meet a deadline like opening the show to the public.

Embracing Agility: Adaptability as Your Competitive Advantage: Events - and especially trade shows - seldom unfold precisely as planned. Be prepared to adjust your approach in response to the dynamic energy of the trade show. Encountering unforeseen challenges or a competitor showcasing a similar product? It's relevant to remain calm and leverage your adaptability. Highlight your unique value proposition, and refine your storytelling strategy to showcase your brand's distinct character. It's key to adapt to the situation at the show, to stay flexible, and have an open-mind. Be prepared to organize things directly at the show that you might not have planned.

Focusing on what skills specifically you want to hone in on and to to make them your goals and to have that clarity and focus for each and every event will allow you to measure your growth in a consistent basis

Learn as many skills as possible. This is one sure way to become a leader that is flexible and adaptable. This way, you can serve and assist in any capacity

Showing appreciation and recognizing your staff is one of the most important elements of being a good leader, but for something that is so easy and quick to do, it's very often overlooked. Working trade shows is exhausting, so thank your staff for their hard work. Offer words of encouragement. A few simple words that compliment a specific action or achievement lets your staff know you are paying attention and you appreciate them. Also, ensure you do this in a timely manner - complimenting in the moment is far more effective than 3 weeks post-show.

There are so many moving parts in a tradeshow, and we sometimes forget to thank not only our team members but also the other people who contribute such as your vendors. Most likely, you will be working with the same people. Show appreciation before, during and after the show. I like to bring small gifts (like branded candy) so my team remembers their time at the show. I also take plenty of photos and post them on our official social media accounts, recognizing everyone. Saying thank you shows that you care as a leader.

Have some fun! That doesn't have to mean going and drinking a lot and making the next day challenging, but finding a way to disconnect and learn something new and random.

It's very stressful at a trade fair, especially for the core team. In principle, you are constantly troubleshooting. Mistakes can happen, but the team always has its eye on success. That's why the clear direction is to provide positive motivation, celebrate and recognize small successes from time to time, and, as a leader, tackle things yourself and be part of the team.

Demonstrating appreciation and recognition is fundamental for effective leadership at a tradeshow. Acknowledging the contributions and efforts of team members fosters a positive and supportive environment, boosting morale and motivation. Leaders can show appreciation through verbal praise, written recognition, or small gestures of gratitude. Additionally, publicly acknowledging achievements during team meetings or networking events enhances team morale and reinforces a culture of appreciation. By consistently showing appreciation and recognition, leaders can inspire loyalty, foster stronger team cohesion, and ultimately drive success at the tradeshow.

In my experience, it’s necessary to coordinate a schedule for booth staff in order to give everyone a break to rest or stretch their legs and for meals or grab water. It’s always important to keep your staff hydrated so a small fridge or branded cooler placed out of sight with water is crucial. A nice perk for your booth staff is a branded cup to avoid unsightly water bottles around. Also, enforce a no tech policy unless it’s to help a booth visitor or customer. It’s difficult for booth visitors to get the assistance they need if staff is on their phone and look unavailable.

Make sure you know how to do all of those things BEFORE you're at an actual show! Once you're at the show and everything hits the fan, it's too late to review the different skills and attitudes that you need.

Trade shows bring multiple functions of a market together - from buyers to suppliers, consultants, trade bodies, press & PR, students to senior leaders. Beyond the organised activities, think about what you would like to gain from being surrounded by your market. Is there an issue in your market that you're passionate about, such as sustainability or diversity. Could you create a special interest group? Do you want to expand your personal network to help you find your next job? Prepare your personal elevator pitch/ short intro and make the most of all the networking or downtime moments during the event to speak to everyone you can. I've met some great people just from chatting in the coat check queue.

Tradeshows can serve as an important platform for leaders to get in touch with insiders and outsiders. Here’s how they can show and refine their leadership skills - 1) Empower and groom your team and to reflect your brand effectively. You have the opportunity to see them live in action, give feedback and also supplement their conversation all on the spot. You can also inspire them by letting them witness your personal style and approach 2) Be available and accessible but don’t steal the limelight. Let your team take the lead, observe them and be there to back them up if needed. 3) Be a speaker on a key topic. It is quite motivating for the team to see their leader as an important industry voice and a chance to build thought leadership

Leadership skills are showcased in preparedness. Be prepared for a tradeshow, ahead of a tradeshow. Do your homework to know who is going to be there, what they offer, if they align with whatever it is you are there for, etc. Don't waste a vendor's time with questions you could have had answered on your own, ahead of time. Get the information or connection you want in person, that you can't get online. Also, doing your homework ahead of time makes for your time well spent there and not wasted where energy is spent somewhere/with someone unnecessary.