A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to attend a technical conference with my company. It was supposed to be a great chance to socialise, get to know amazing people in the tech industry and bond with my colleagues. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the best out of the event.
Since I believe that I shouldn’t forget my mistakes and that I should consider what I can change to be more successful in such environment, I thought it would be best to write my musings down.
Overall I was able to distinguish between 3 (actually 4) different types of attendees at this conference. I am ignoring the typical split of extroverts and introverts here, since I’m focusing on what I felt was very obvious social behaviour.
- The smokers
These are the ones that crowd outside in the cold and use the opportunity provided to them, the smoking break, to socialize with new people. A variety of techniques were used, asking another if they wanted to go for a smoke, asking for a lighter, bonding over the cold, etc. It seemed that people knew of the advantage of being a smoker and utilized it to its fullest. - The drinkers
Usually there is some form of event after the technical part of the conference, the “Networking event”, in which attendees are encouraged to socialize. The drinkers are the ones that know how to utilise the free alcohol and their state between tipsy and drunk to get to know new people. Most of them bond with others of their type, especially on the morning after. But they also manage to get to know a lot of other people just by being energetic drunk. - The loners
First time attendees, people that don’t know others at the conference. They are pretty easy to recognise, usually standing on their own nursing a drink, looking a bit lost. Like myself. But on the other hand if approached they are usually happy to chat. - The managers
Generally socializing and exchanging pointers with other people of their level is their job so they tend to be more serious about approaching people and making sure to note down names and peoples expertise. They always seem to know how to approach and coax information out of you. It seems like they have a completely different mentality.
Since I’m neither a drinker, nor a smoker and also not outgoing or a manager, I fall into the loner category. And this makes it terribly hard to network.
Finally what I think I should have done differently. The conference was centred around workshops and went on for 2 days of which one evening was scheduled for socializing. I attended a lot of interesting workshops but chose not to communicate with neighbours or people I considered interesting. Additionally I didn’t utilise the dinner to meet new people while I talked to some I spent most of my time with my colleagues. The times I did talk to new people, during lunch or coffee break, I regretted my not so thought out sentences.
So the plan for next time is:
- Target people like myself, the obviously awkward.
- Talk to neighbours in workshops.
- Do your best!!
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