UPDATE | Last week, I headed to SF for Tech Week. It was invigorating, inspiring, and all the other "-ings" you hope for when committing time and resources to attend such events. I used to hate conferences, particularly the pressure to bring back business. But then I had a realization — my typical ROI on such events is something like 10:1. Then I had a second realization. None of that ROI came from "pitching" people. In fact, most of it came from casual conversations that I didn't even consider "networking" while it was happening. With that being the case, the immense anxiety I feel at conferences to "perform" is utterly ridiculous. There is another side (isn't there always?). While I overindex for stressing at conferences, I underindex on follow-up. That 10:1 ROI I mentioned? It primarily came from coincidental reconnecting rather than intentional outreach. What would happen if I actually took the time to continue the conversations that started last week? This week I'm going to find out.
Kelly Kruse
2mo
Sorry, we missed you last week. Next time!
People/Culture/HR/Employee Engagement Leader, Career Amplifier, Nonprofit Supporter
2moIf networking is a chore you're probably doing it wrong. Just be a person meeting other people connecting over things of interest. Sometimes that may be work-related. I only met you because of being in a small crowd in a horrible venue at SXSW. Never had the thought I'd end up in print but that's just how things played out.