Your Career: Virtual or Face-to-Face, Conference Season Is Here

Tips on how best to navigate a major professional meeting. ADVERTISEMENT [Academe Today Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. Tips on how best to navigate a major professional meeting. Sometimes everything falls into place at a conference, and a beautiful attendee Zen allows you to be in the moment, fully present, and part of the conversation. Most of us never reach that enlightened state, however, because we’ve sabotaged ourselves — by, for example, reading and replying to work emails instead of paying attention during conference sessions. But there are steps you can take to make the most of a professional meeting: - Make a plan but allow yourself to veer off course. Only when a conference is underway do you find out if the sessions you thought were going to be useful actually are. Sometimes the particular activity just isn’t as advertised; sometimes it is but is simply not that well done. It’s useful to have a Plan B for just such occurrences. - Enjoy the Q&A (but in the right way). Don’t be that guy who takes up all of the Q&A time with long-winded puffery. There is a better way: (1) Write down questions for presenters while they’re presenting; (2) use the humorous-yet-useful flow chart “[Should I Ask My Question]( as a guide; (3) pay attention to the scope of the presentation, and ask questions that tie back to the aims of the speakers in some way. Continue reading: “[How to Make the Most of an Academic Conference]( by Thomas J. Tobin Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. 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