It’s been a ride writing on seven out of the eight pillars of wellness, month in and month out. The last but not the least of them, which is social wellbeing will be covered this month. Considering the anticipated surge in social activities from this month on till next year, there is no better time to write on social wellbeing from the viewpoint of events and how to optimize attendance.
Even though it’s common knowledge that human beings are social creatures and no one can truly survive, grow, and excel without others, navigating networking for business and social connections may be somewhat daunting. Just recently, it was a whole different experience even for me who knew the importance of connections as a social wellness enhancer.
In today’s fast-paced, often isolating world, the value of meaningful connections cannot be overstated. This, succinctly buttressed by the ancient African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” encapsulates the transformative potential of human connections in achieving lasting success and wellbeing. However, it is imperative to be strategic with alliances not to lose focus, get slowed down, or be completely distracted. So, let’s explore actionable plans to ensure we make the best of all the events we attend going forward.
Pre-Event Preparation: Preparation to attend an event or program should go beyond choosing those nice outfits or having eye-popping hairdos and makeup for photo ops especially when it’s a business gathering. Ensure you obtain important information about the event’s program/activities list well ahead. While going through the program, identify keynote speakers, panelists, and important attendees that align with your goals and interests. Then, research their backgrounds, works, and achievements to find conversation starters. Be clear on set objectives for attending the event, as they will shape your mindset, guide your engagement, and help with post-event assessment. So, determine well ahead, if your presence will be strictly business, social, personal development, or a blend of some or all. Lastly, find a few friends, colleagues, or people in your industry attending, so you can be around and look out for each other. It simply makes it more fun and less stressful to be in the company of those you know and trust.
At the Event: Having clearly identified the type of event and how long it would last, be there early enough not to miss the meet and greet. There, you get to exchange pleasantries and business cards with people you ordinarily may not be able to walk up to for a chat, especially after delivering their speeches. Then, position yourself for meaningful interactions with these key individuals. Prepare elevator pitches for brief introductions as you seek to seize the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions without forgetting to commend the speakers or organizers before doing so. As you exchange business cards, remember to follow up with the new contacts. Also, if one of your goals is to learn, ensure you take notes during speeches and panel discussions. Otherwise, you can record those that interest you the most for you to listen to again and again. Use breaks or breakout sessions to initiate conversations with speakers and attendees, and join specific groups or forums on social media. Lastly, remember to engage in group conversations and activities. Participate in activities and if you so much enjoy the event, ask how you can volunteer for the next one.
Post-Event Follow-up: As hinted above, send follow-up emails and messages to new contacts. Continue to connect with attendees on social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, or which best works for you. Don’t be in haste to post during the program, rather share insightful statements, key takeaways, and well-thought-through posts weeks after. Schedule meetings or calls with key connections, review event materials and implement learned strategies.
Other tips you may want to consider are dressing appropriately bearing in mind the platforms you want your pictures to feature being prepared to make a good impression. Hence, dressing professionally may just be the safest if no dress code is stipulated. Practice active listening and be genuinely interested as this will show when you are given the opportunity to ask a question. Be sure to set boundaries and remember selfcare. This is why you need not attend all events open to you. A few meaningful ones are worth a hundred with little or no engagement.
Embracing a together approach to life is far-reaching with profound impacts on social wellbeing through human connections, relationship building, and networking. Our mindset, preparedness, and willpower to actualize our goals can all be summed up as dream, dare, do, just as this year’s Wimbiz conference was themed. Therefore, viewing events or gatherings as opportunities for growth and connection is crucial. Likewise giving values, being open minded/receptive, and ultimately, cultivating gratitude and appreciation for new connections.
Call to action
Having shared these few tips, evaluate the success of the last event you attended. What would you do differently in terms of strategies to adopt for future events? Kindly share your thoughts by sending an email to [email protected].
Opaleye, a wellbeing specialist and corporate wellness strategist, writes from Lagos
