Getting the most out
of conference season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … conference season! A time to push back from your dusty desk, come out from under those fluorescent office lights, and exhale the stale air of the work-a-day in exchange for meeting your peers IRL.
In the spirit of the “season”, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can get the most out of the conferences you attend this spring.
1. Break Away From Your Pack
And if you’re travelling solo, you can always make a new friend by visiting the vendors in the sponsor hall. In addition to getting some cool swag to take home for the kids, you might just snag an invite to their VIP reception or dinner. Bonus: more new friends!
2. Take Away One Thing
So many ideas, so little time. Great conferences inspire with new ideas and approaches that get us fired up in our work. That is, until we get back to the office and that pile of emails and tasks that are waiting for you (insert sad trombone noise here). Though it sounds small, taking away just ONE great idea or new thing to try can make your conference worthwhile.
Or perhaps you can inspire your colleagues by having an informal lunch and learn to share what you learned when you get back to work. They might latch onto a completely different takeaway than you, multiplying the conference benefits. Plus, by sharing what you learned, they will know that you weren’t just attending the social event
3. Write It Down, And Reflect
Conferences are go, go, go. But what about cracking that free notebook that you got? (If you don’t have one, drop me a note and I’ll send you a Global Philanthropic Canada journal) Most conferences will provide you with the presenters slides, but did you know that writing it down helps you better retain the information? It might be a phrase from the keynote that resonates with you, a few quick points from a breakout session, or even a sketch of something you saw on screen. Whatever it is, bust out that new diary and take a few notes. And if you can make the time between the sessions and the evening event, journal for a few minutes about what you’re seeing and hearing at the conference to help solidify your learning.
4. Try A Different Type of Conference or Pro-D Investment
If you’re further along in your career, you’ve likely been to the same conferences a number of times, and maybe you’re looking for a change. Take a tip from Masterclass culture and think about a different type of conference that could give you a new perspective on your work. If you’re a fundraiser, try a sales conference. If you’re an Executive Director, what about a leadership conference? And really anyone could benefit from a creativity conference, don’t you think?
Or perhaps you could allocate that conference travel budget into a workshop or course and earn a new credential at the same time. Leadership Coaching is an invaluable skill that I wish I would have learned earlier in my career, and something every manager can benefit from (check out Destination Leadership to learn more)
I also have many colleagues and friends who have used their professional development dollars to start chipping away at a program, micro-credential or degree at Royal Roads University or the Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership program at Carleton University.
5. Bring a Sweater and Don't Forget to Duck Out for Some Fresh Air
We’re anxious to step out in our spring gear, but conference rooms are like taking a cold plunge back into winter. Being cryogenically frozen can make those sun-less conference hours feel long and draining. So bring a sweater, and get out of that deep freeze and take a walk around the block – better yet, take a new friend with you.
And what if you don’t have budget for a conference?
A number of years ago, I started marking a week in my calendar in late spring for what I call a “Personal Development Week”. This was a time to tackle some of the things that I felt would make me a better person and professional and has been invaluable in helping me chart a course for my work and personal journey. One of my main activities in the week is to work on all the “assignments” in the non-fiction books I have read that year. You know – the things you skip over when you’re reading the book and always plan to come back to later.
Some of the books that I have worked through in recent years and would highly recommend are:
- Be the Change(Maker) by Kara Exner
- First Things First by Stephen R. Covey
- Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin
- A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink
Chip and Dan Heath’s books won’t give you “assignments” at the end of each chapter, but boy will they give you some good ideas that you can apply to your work! A few personal favourites of mine are Made to Stick, The Power of Moments (a MUST if you work with donors!) and Upstream.
I feel inspired just thinking of all the good things we can learn from each other, and on our own through books and online resources! Whether you hop on a plane, in a car, or go as far as your own patio, I hope you take some time to learn about yourself and your work this spring.
By Christy Miller, BComm, MPNL is an avid conference-goer and speaker at conferences across Canada. To talk to Christy about presenting for your group, book a free consultation here.
Global Philanthropic Canada is a national fundraising consultancy with 90+ experienced practitioners, each bringing an average of 28 years of fundraising expertise. We provide practical, accessible counsel to organizations of all sizes and missions across Canada.
We believe in respectful, inclusive collaboration and work alongside our clients to build capacity, strengthen fundraising programs, and advance mission impact.
