We stick like glue to our friends and business associates at conferences and seminars. Yet people always claim that one of their primary reasons for attending a conference is “networking”.
The next time that you are in a conference session leave your friend at the door.
Go up to new people and introduce yourself, spend the time to get to know them better.
As planners, encourage speakers to get people to do this.
Play musical chairs at the beginning of a session. Get attendees to move around and sit with people they don’t know.
Encourage discussions during the session. Now – because you aren’t sitting next to your friend, you are more likely to learn something new. You probably already know how your friend and associate will solve a problem but you can learn from a new person.
Leave your friend at the door, meet new people in the room, talk to them and you’ll have a better return on your investment of time.
