Ed.
note:
This
is
the
fourth
article
in
a
series
providing
a
comprehensive
guide
to
networking
at
conferences.
Read
the
first
here, second
here,
and
third
here.
In
this
installment
of
“Conquering
Conferences,”
we
step
into
the
heart
of
the
event
–
the
social
rhythm
of
conversations.
Like
dancers
on
a
floor,
each
interaction
at
a
conference
is
an
opportunity
to
engage
in
a
meaningful
and
enjoyable
dialogue.
Let’s
discover
how
to
make
every
conversation
count.
The
Social
Rhythm
of
Conference
Conversations
It’s
time
to
shake
things
up
in
the
legal
mixer,
to
swirl
through
the
crowd
with
finesse
and
engage
in
conversations
that
are
both
professional
and
personable.
Here
are
some
conversation
starters
that
can
help
you
glide
through
these
social
interactions
with
the
grace
of
a
seasoned
dancer,
blending
professional
topics
with
personal
interest
to
create
a
harmonious
and
memorable
exchange:
-
“Been
to
this
conference
before,
or
are
you
a
freshman?”
—
A
cheeky
way
to
ask
about
their
conference
history. -
“Got
any
courtroom
war
stories?”
—
Nudging
them
to
share
interesting
cases. -
“Read
anything
lately
that
doesn’t
have
‘v.’
in
the
title?”
—
A
light-hearted
book
question. -
“How
do
you
keep
the
scales
of
work-life
balance
from
tipping
over?”
—
Adds
a
relatable,
personal
element. -
“What’s
your
secret
lawyer
superpower?
Mine’s
caffeine
tolerance.”
—
A
quirky,
personal-professional
question. -
“Where
did
you
grow
up?”
—
A
personal
question
that
often
uncovers
common
backgrounds. -
“Any
favorite
memory
from
law
school?”
—
Brings
a
nostalgic,
lighter
touch. -
“What
inspired
you
to
choose
law
as
a
career?”
—
Gets
into
their
personal
motivations. -
“Do
you
have
a
hobby
that
takes
your
mind
off
work?”
—
Shifts
the
focus
to
personal
interests. -
“If
you
weren’t
in
law,
what
would
you
be
doing?”
—
Encourages
them
to
share
dreams
and
alternate
passions. -
“What’s
your
go-to
activity
for
stress
relief?”
—
A
personal
insight
into
how
they
manage
the
pressures
of
the
profession. -
“What’s
the
most
unexpected
lesson
your
legal
career
has
taught
you?”
—
Invites
sharing
of
unique
insights
and
experiences. -
“What’s
your
secret
to
staying
motivated
in
this
challenging
field?”
—
Delves
into
personal
strategies
for
professional
perseverance. -
“What
legal
trend
or
topic
are
you
currently
keeping
an
eye
on?”
—
Keeps
the
conversation
relevant
and
industry-focused. -
“How
do
you
think
our
profession
will
change
in
the
next
10
years?”
—
Encourages
forward-thinking
and
speculative
conversation.
Now
that
we’ve
danced
through
the
conversations,
it’s
time
to
learn
the
art
of
the
graceful
exit.
In
our
next
article,
we’ll
teach
you
to
exit
conversations
smoothly,
leaving
a
lasting
impression
without
any
awkwardness.
The
Social
Rhythm
of
Conference
Conversations
✔️
Engage
in
meaningful
dialogues,
blending
professional
topics
with
personal
interests.
✔️
Use
open-ended
questions
to
encourage
rich,
interactive
discussions.
Sejal Patel is
the Founder
of
Sage
Ivy,
a
New
York-based
consultancy
specializing
in
empowering
attorneys
with
innovative
practice
development
strategies.
With
over
20
years
of
experience,
Sejal
applies
her
expertise
in
assisting
clients
convert
their
relationships
into
revenue
by
applying
individualized
strategies
to
their
networks
and
leveraging
their
unique
styles
authentically.