Conferences are places to connect with thought leaders and others in your field. You can do this by attending planned events like panels, workshops and lectures. However, I find that those settings are not always conducive to making real connections. If there are individuals I know from around the country who are going to be at a conference with me, I want to have as much meaningful time with them as possible. Conferences are just as much about the content as they are about forging strong relationships with colleagues by discussing work face-to-face. 

So the next time you go to a conference, make a schedule for yourself—but for every planned event you attend—make sure you grab a coffee or a meal or a walk with your colleagues whom you don’t see often. And if you’re attending a conference and don’t know anyone, go to the networking events to meet new people. And when you run into them at future conferences, prioritize spending time with them as much as you do sitting in those hit-or-miss lectures.