When working with her clients, Kathy Dailey, strategic creative consultant and executive coach for Dailey & Company, has found that many people have mixed feelings about attending PromaxBDA: The Conference.

“I remember the first time I attended The Conference and how overwhelming it felt,” she writes. “Later in my career, I tended to arrive with a ‘been there, done that’ or ‘show me’ attitude, [both of which] can be detrimental to how you experience any networking event.”

Tomorrow at 9:10 a.m. in Plaza 123, Dailey speaks at the session “Get Sticky! Work this Conference Like a Pro!” Below, we present her 5 tips for navigating the next few days:

1. Be open. Go into a networking situation with an open and curious mind, versus a closed and critical demeanor. The people you meet will mirror your positive energy.

2. Listen more than you talk. Active listening is the key to good communication.

3. Have conversations, not monologues. Most people like to talk about themselves, so ask questions and listen before responding.

4. Stay engaged. Smile and make eye contact. Give them your undivided attention. People can sense when you’re looking over their shoulder to see if there’s someone else you might want to talk to.

5. Pace yourself. Remember that PromaxBDA is a marathon, not a sprint! You want to learn as much as you can while enjoying the parties, making new contacts and spending time with friends.

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