Yesterday’s Brainzooming mega-post was about how an introvert can go solo and still comfortably meet new people at a conference. I’m happy to report my initial audience of one for the mega-post used it with great success yesterday.
Before the event was set to start, she messaged me: amid her thanks for the post’s help, she mentioned planning to skip the opening keynote because it didn’t seem as if she’d learn anything. Thanking her for her graciousness, I asked if I could offer one more piece of advice.
She responded, “Don’t skip the opening keynote?”
“EXACTLY,” I replied.
She offered several reasons why she couldn’t make it. I suggested going for the last 30 minutes of the 90-minute talk. The reason? Part of the whole introvert trying to meet new people at a conference strategy depends on creating as many shared experiences with others as possible. Shared experiences are bonding opportunities and future conversation starters. People will be talking about the opening keynote at the next session. If she missed it, she’d already be left out of the conversation, reinforcing any views that this conference would be a lonely experience.
My cajoling worked. She attended the opening keynote.
And guess what? People were laughing, enjoying it, and she learned things!
Uh huh.
If you can avoid it, NEVER skip the opening keynote. Beyond the reason I shared with her, here are five others:
Trust me: NEVER skip the opening keynote at a conference! Mike Brown
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