I’ve just returned from the Gold Coast and the amazing Australian Cotton Conference. I was thrilled to be able to input to the program which saw Neuro Science and Leadership specialist Kristen Hansen as a keynote speaker. I was also lucky enough to facilitate a standing room only workshop for growers about on farm leadership and team development with colleagues Nic and Chon. I see it’s conference season and there appear many to choose from. The investment to attend a face to face conference is high so I reckon it makes sense to “give and gain” the most from the experience. Returning tired and excited is just the start!
To gain max from your investment and time away, it’s what you do when you return home and to work that can really make a lasting difference. So, today, here are 5 key ways to maximise the returns from your time away. Take a look and give these a go the next time you invest in a conference.
“I love gaining specialist industry knowledge, feeling motivated by inspiring speakers, networking with old and new colleagues and to be honest the trade halls or extra action that sits around the conference is icing on the cake for me.” – Jo Eady
The kick here is that it’s what you do after the conference that can really make things light up your world! Here are 5 things I think you must do.
1. Follow Speakers on Socials – Some speakers will blow you away. This is a sign to get connected. Find these speakers online and start following them. Share their profiles with others you think might be interested in them and their work.
2. Action Your Action List – It’s likely you have come back with a list of actions you want to take. Use it as a checklist. Don’t overthink this. First week after conference is perfect timing to start your ticks!
3. Check out Websites – Take some time to get to know the people and topics you resonated with further by taking a look around their websites. You’ll usually find blog posts or research outcomes etc there. The key here is to take a deeper dive into topics of relevance to you.
4. Build and Maintain Your Networks – Be assertive and follow up with people you met and clicked with. Ask them for a coffee / ZOOM catch up. No need to have anything to sell here, just a catch up.
5. Share information and or teach some of the new concepts you learned with others – Might be a conversation, a mention in a meeting or a small group session.
Over to You
Which of these tips resonate the most for you? What are you going to do about them? Remember to give and gain the most you can from the conference you attended. We love it when people reach out after an event and say hello. It all goes towards building positive networks. This doesn’t happen unless you make the first move. Please take one or two or maybe even three things and put them in place today. Good luck. And please feel free to reach out to me here if you think I can help in any way.
Until next time!
