How to Get More Out of Seminars and Workshops

Do you find seminar and workshop attendance to be helpful for your own professional enrichment—or do you generally find it to be a waste of your time?

Do you learn interesting things that you can actually apply to your daily professional life—or is it purely intellectual?

Getting the most out of a seminar or workshop means more than just attending; it means actually, actively participating—preparing yourself in advance and remaining diligent throughout the event. That takes a specific mindset and a certain set of skills. If you are attending a seminar or conference some time soon and want it to be truly meaningful to your life and career, you might start by reflecting on the tips and strategies we have offered below.

Preparing for a Meaningful Seminar

To get the most out of a seminar, you first need to prepare your mind for the experience of learning. We recommend some reflection in the following categories:

Your priorities. Think about what the next six months will hold for you, career-wise. Then think about the next year. What do you hope to accomplish? What are the big achievements you hope to have down by year’s end? Have these in the back of your mind throughout the seminar; they will provide some direction for your thoughts, and some potential avenues of application.

Your plans. Along the same lines, think about the career changes or developments you know are coming down the pipeline, and see how your gleanings from the seminar might impact those plans.

Puzzles. What are some of the biggest challenges you experience in your work life? Some of the most vexing professional issues? Say you are going to a seminar about time management. Before you go, think through some of the biggest time management problems that you have noticed in your daily work life, or in your business. Think about some of the time management issues you just haven’t been able to crack. Prepare yourself to receive some possible answers, or at least some stimulation.

People. Seminars are about more than just what you learn. They are also about who you connect with. List the people you want to touch base with at the conference, and—if possible—reach out to them in advance to prime the pump for a meeting.

Getting the most out of any professional event requires you to cultivate a certain mindset—and doing so can leave you open to professional enrichment you might otherwise miss out on.