As many of you know, I’ll be speaking at the ACHE Congress next week. Recently, I was asked, “Why should I attend this conference?” The question came from a grad student in an MHA program. He’d heard others say the conference—one of the largest annual ones of its kind—was a waste of time—and money.

There is no doubt the event (like most any conference) requires a significant investment of both time and money. But remember that concept of “compounding interest”—how you have to make investments to reap the rewards, which can be significant, especially the earlier you start to invest? This concept can be applied to Congress. You get back what you put into it.

So I absolutely recommend emerging leaders attend the Congress. But you have to make the most of it. Here are some ways you can take advantage of all this experience has to offer:

• Go to as many sessions as you can. Yes, there are only so many you can attend with your regular registration fee, but there are still lots of opportunities with that. So don’t skip any sessions.

• Attend networking opportunities. You could shop then Magnificent Mile instead (I make sure to come a day early and get this priority taken care of before the conference begins), but it’s best to invest in yours (not spend) by making professional connections to maximize your time at the conference. Don’t forget: Education is just one piece of Congress—the other dimension is networking.

• Reach out. If you’re waiting in the lobby or standing around before an event or session, introduce yourself. Constantly make connections.

• Expand your circle. By that, don’t just hang around with people you know from other events, your graduate program or your hometown. Don’t rely on the “safety” of your existing network. Make a broader one!

• Ask questions. Not just during sessions, but before, during or after other events. So long as there are like-minded people in your presence, there are opportunities to learn. While there may be no such thing as a stupid question, some questions are better than others. Where are they from? What was their career path? Challenges in their present role? What’s their organization like? What roles are available within healthcare now? You’ll be rewarded with rich insight into the profession and industry, and get the added benefit of developing a new contact.

• Collect business cards. This should be standard operating procedure. Just do it.

• Stay in touch. As I’ve mentioned before, a little investment can go a long way to keep a relationship warm and current. You could do something as simple as send a handwritten note following the Congress, or e-mail your new contacts when you see their name in a trade to congratulate them on their achievements.

• Make good impressions. Think of the room where you mingle as your stage. You need to always be “on” and aware that people are watching you. You don’t want to do anything that will draw negative attention toward you. You need to be memorable for good reasons—not because you drank too much and stumbled into the hotel lobby for all to see. Be poised. Dress sharp. Articulate. Carry yourself well. Show that you’re a capable emerging leader (even though you may feel less-than-confident on the inside).

It’s not enough to simply be present. If you’re just “there,” you’ll probably be disappointed by the results (i.e. you won’t get any results) and you’ll probably want your money back. You need to communicate, connect, interact—be alive. After all, you wouldn’t buy a gym membership to simply go there and sit on the exercise bike. You need to spin the wheels and put in your sweat equity. Exercise your professional networking skills and savvy and you’ll never regret a single penny or moment. you invested in this event.