The Value of Networking at Enterprise Connect

You've likely started receiving emails promoting the fact that registration is now open for Enterprise Connect 2017, the annual event where IT professionals, business leaders, and technology providers gather in Orlando to drive the business of enterprise communications to new heights. In the time leading up to the event, one of the decisions you the attendee will have to make is with whom you want to network: other enterprises, service providers, vendors, resellers, IT peers, etc.

In fact, networking is one of the best reasons for going to Enterprise Connect. Networking is a social business activity where business people meet to create business relationships or develop business opportunities and share information with their peers. Networking has expanded over that last few decades to include a wide range or relationships beyond business opportunities.

While attending the educational sessions and panel discussions at Enterprise Connect, you will most likely network with other attendees. On the exhibit floor, you will network with some of the more than 180 exhibitors to learn about products and services that may be of interest to your organization. How effectively you network with the people you meet will be enforced by your ability to hold conversations and interview the exhibitors.

There are multiple reasons to network. You network to meet people who can help you in your career, at work, and in your business. When you attend a conference like Enterprise Connect, there are thousands of your peers with whom to interact. You may be using or considering the products or services that some peers at the conference have experience with deploying. It can be valuable to contact them and learn what advantages, challenges, and difficulties they had with the products and services you are interested in selecting.

A second major reason is to visit the exhibitors, who can provide you a wealth of information about their own products and services as well as point to some of the major technology trends. While you may set out to educate yourself about a specific new offering for your enterprise, you will also probably learn about products and services beyond those considered for use in your organization. When considering a vendor or provider, you'll also want to find out who their competitors are so that you can obtain the best possible solution. It may also help you develop a bidders list.

A personal value of networking is that you may meet people that provide new career opportunities for you.

Whatever your primary motivation for attending the event is, you should hone your networking skills. The attitude you take and the behavior you display will influence how effective you will be with networking at the conference. Keep in mind that when you network at the conference, you should behave in a genuine and authentic manner. You want to build trust and create relationships that benefit both you and the other party.

Think about your goals before you attend. Talk to your managers and others in your organization to determine what they think is important to learn at the conference. This will help you select the groups, vendors, and other users that can help you. You may be able to help them as well. You don't always know a lot about the products/services selected until after you have implemented them. Talking to others who have selected the products or services can give you insights that will help you be more successful applying them.

You're also networking to help your career. If possible, volunteer for panels or participate in the program presentations yourself. This improves your visibility in your career.

You need to be able to articulate what you're looking for and how others may help you. As you visit the exhibitors or you talk to other attendees some may ask how they can help you. Be prepared with answers, rather than trying to create an answer on the spot. Better preparation usually means that the response contains more useful information.

After the event, keep in contact with the people you do meet. Part of the goal of networking at conferences is to set up a two-way relationship where you can help others and others can help you. Plan on communicating with these peers after the conference and set up a means of communications to keep in contact.