Time Management Techniques for Event Attendees: Making the Most of Your Experience
Event attendees often struggle to find the perfect time management techniques for when they are waiting. The following are some strategies that can help you to make the most of your event experience.
Many people enjoy events for many different reasons. Some go to catch up with old friends, while others attend at work or school and still others attend as a hobby or passion. Regardless of the reason that you attend events, there is always the struggle between being present in what is actually happening versus attending for enjoyment first and then focusing on future actions after an event has ended.
When you are attending an event, you must observe the natural flow of the schedule. If you have a presentation, do not show up early and miss all of the opening sessions. Stay late to watch others present as well if you must be there at those times. You will lose your opportunity to learn more if you are out of synch with the schedule.
Also, when attending any event, try to not let other people's priorities for attending affect your one’s own. Some people will want to arrive very early since they plan on leaving very late and not concentrating on actual content throughout most of their time there. The result is that you are probably getting something that they are not and you can miss out on the overall experience of others.
Another "weakness" that many people have is being too obsessed about making it to their next event or appointment. This tends to make them miss out on the current event doing what they should be doing instead. This issue happens when people become so focused on their work, rather than paying attention to what is going on around themselves.
When attending any event, you need to make sure that you have a record of it being written down for future reference. It is easy to forget what happened in a particular time frame, and it is difficult to remember important things if you do not keep a detailed record of them.
While attending an event, make sure that you do not become so enthralled that you spend an excessive amount of time outside of the actual agenda. When in any type of environment where all activities are going on at once, it is easy to get side tracked by chatter with people around you. This distraction can lead to missed information and conversations that would be better had they happened later during the event. In most cases, however, there will be some conversation after the event is over that will need to be taken care of then rather than beforehand.
Using time management strategies to attend an event can allow you to make the most out of doing so while still remaining focused on the actual event that you are attending. If you do choose to make use of some of the events more efficient time management techniques, your overall experience will be better than one where you simply show up and allow others to dictate what happens next.
Being in control prior to an event is important for everyone. When attending any event, try to prepare yourself as much as possible. This allows you to have a positive experience rather than suffer through it because of unpreparedness or the need for a bailout plan.
Achieving preparedness prior to an event is as simple as being able to use time management strategies. Reading the agenda and notes beforehand, writing out your thoughts and any questions you may have, and arriving early (if they allow it) can all play important parts in being prepared for anything that may occur at an event.
While attending any event, you must make sure that you understand what your goals are for attending the event. This will help keep you on task because you will be more inclined to pay attention and concentrate on learning whatever it is that is being presented or displayed.
Depending on the reasons that you are attending an event, your goals may vary. If you are attending as a student, then the goal may be to learn a subject matter, whereas if you are attending a trade show or expo then the goal may be to obtain new contacts for business. Regardless of the reason that you have chosen to attend an event, having goals prior can help in achieving success from it.
Being prepared for any type of situation is important prior to your attendance at an event. For example, when going on a trip where there is weather; you need to take along items like extra clothes and water for basic survival situations. When going to an event, you need to take along a portfolio of your work, important business cards, and any other items that you may need for the event. Planning ahead can help you attend any event with more ease.
Also, many people have trouble with maintaining their focus when attending events where there is a lot of activity and background noise present. Having materials such as notepads can be very helpful in paying attention to what is being presented as well as taking notes or recording the information in a way that focuses your attention on what is happening at the time. These tips may seem elementary, but they will help you attend an event much more easily.
Attending any event requires a lot of effort and concentration on your part. It is vital to have the right tools on hand prior to attending any type of event. Having what you need at the time is not enough, however, as you also need to use time management skills to stay on task throughout the duration of your attendance.
Time Management Skills — Attending an Event People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often scatterbrained, easily bored and impulsive. These people can have difficulty attending events — like parties or job interviews — because they are more interested in being social than communicating with other people about their goals. Ritalin (methylphenidate) improves focus, energy and ability to maintain attention for ADHD people. A doctor can prescribe this drug if you think your child would benefit from it.
Situational Awareness — Attending an Event A situation awareness rehearsal is a good idea before you attend some events in order to maintain your awareness of possible scenarios that may arise at the event. You will be more prepared to deal with any situation and minimize discomfort or embarrassment in case something does happen.
Conclusion — Attending an Event While attending any event, some basic time management strategies can help you achieve a more satisfying experience. If you arrive early to events, take notes, continue to ask questions and listen to instructions, and stay focused on what you are there to accomplish then your time at the event will be maximized and you will be able to maintain a level of satisfaction from it.
About The Author
David Smith is a freelance writer who writes about time management and other topics that interest him. He enjoys reading books as well as watching movies on his free time. You can read more about time management and ADHD by visiting his blog or website at http://attendeeadhd.com/ .