The Introvert’s Survival Guide to Conferences.

I love people, but I must admit I can’t be around them continually. It drains me. Hello, my name is Dan and I’m an introvert.

I previously wrote Attention Introverts! You Can Market Successfully. Now I’d like to turn my attention to another challenge for introverts – conferences. If the thought of spending days submerged in a sea of people is daunting, don’t despair. This article is for you.

Believe me, you can be introverted and still enjoy a conference. The Association of Personal Historians conference in Victoria this November is going to be a blast! Not to be missed. I’ll be there, armed with my Introvert’s Survival Guide. Here are some tips I’ve picked up over the years.

Make space for downtime. By all means, attend all the workshops and keynote events that look interesting. But don’t fill your day with wall-to-wall events. Escape to your hotel room for an hour to read, nap, or just stare into space. I find going for a walk outside helps recharge my batteries.

Avoid a hotel roommate. The last thing you need is to have the stress of dealing with a roommate when you just want to relax. If you’re budget minded and plan to share, here’s my advice. Make every effort to find a fellow introvert. Or failing that, at least someone you know who can respect your need for quiet.

Exit conversations gracefully. It might be at a coffee break, meal, or in the hallway, but there’ll be times you need to escape from yet another conversation. Make sure you have a few handy exit lines to draw on such as “I’m sorry, but I need some time to freshen up before the next workshop.” “I’m sorry, but I have a call I need to make.” “I promised to meet up with someone and I need to find them. You’ll have to excuse me.”

Make meaningful connections. I find I’m at my best one-on-one. I make it a point to prepare a list of a few key people I want to see at a conference. Then I set up appointments with those individuals to meet over a coffee or drinks.

Have a conference “extrovert” buddy. This can be a friend, colleague, or someone you meet at the conference. Extroverts love meeting new people and can be the perfect partner at mixers and parties. They’ll introduce you to all kinds of people. No need to stand in the shadows!

Consider an “off site” spot or room service for a meal. I’m not one to enjoy my breakfast with a cast of hundreds. When I can, I look for a nearby cheap and cheerful café to get away from the crowds. Treat yourself to the occasional meal out or room service. It’ll do wonders for your soul.

Photo by Luke Stearns

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