I remember the National Speakers Association conference in San Diego especially well, not because of the breakout sessions or the keynote speakers, but because of all the time I spent walking and talking with my colleague and friend Arnie Sanow. We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were cementing our friendship while literally walking on cement. Just a few years later, we teamed up on a major consulting project. That collaboration didn’t begin with a formal meeting, it started on a walk to dinner.

It has been my honor and privilege to be a member of the National Speakers Association for more than 20 years. Each year, the association hosts an annual conference as well as smaller regional gatherings, and as you might imagine, the speakers in the main sessions are incredible. While I’ve learned a great deal from the structured sessions, I am always torn between sitting in the ballroom and lingering in the hallways.

That’s because I’ve found so much magic in the hallways.

I’m always a little saddened when I see people buried in their phones and iPads during breaks. I don’t know what they’re doing, maybe preparing a time-sensitive proposal, checking in on a family member, or coordinating with a team back at the office. All of those things matter. And yet, while their heads are down, they’re missing the hallway chatter.

It’s in those informal spaces, between the sessions, by the coffee cart, near the elevators that real, human connection happens. I’ve rekindled relationships with people I met years ago, offered encouragement to someone just starting out, and discovered ideas from peers that later helped my clients in meaningful ways.

And this isn’t just true at conferences. While I have been writing about networking at conferences the past few weeks, networking is also done in more casual everyday spaces as well.

Hallway conversations at work often matter just as much. It’s easy to underestimate the value of a casual chat while heading to a meeting or passing by someone’s desk. But those few moments can strengthen relationships, spark collaboration, and create trust across departments.

Especially in hybrid or remote environments, those spontaneous touchpoints are more important than ever.

How do you feel about those informal conversations? Do you shy away from them, or do you approach them with curiosity and generosity? When you see a group you’d like to connect with, how do you join in?

The magic isn’t always on the stage. Sometimes, it’s waiting in the hallway — if you’re willing to look up and step in.