What learning opportunities are you anticipating or seeking for needed improvements?
What makes me excited about my profession is the learning and growing I can do when I attend conferences, listening to experts in our field. I have a few conferences scheduled this summer that I am looking forward to attending. I may seem weird, but I love large conferences with keynote speakers and venders trying to sell you stuff that may benefit your organization. Not to mention, the free pens or sticky-note pads I receive! The greatest part for me is always the great learning I receive from outstanding speakers. I am the guy in the front row eagerly listening. I enjoy the time spent with other leaders like me, visiting about our organizations and the situations we experience. Much can be gained from such events, but we need to be cautious that we do not take on too much.
When in a learning situation, get one to three good ideas and run with them. Too often we attend events and try to get so much information and then take it back to our organizations for implementation. The saying, “less is more” applies here. When we get excited about some plan or initiative, we forget the people we lead already have enough on their plates. We must be cautious of the new ideas being expressed at conferences. These ideas may be great, but they are not necessarily appropriate for your organization.
Find opportunities to connect with your peers and any experts you may find at events. One of the easiest opportunities to grow and learn is being able to engage others in conversation. Much of your learning can come from those who have already experienced similar situations that you are experiencing. It may seem awkward at first to ask for help. Asking for help shows you are willing to learn from others and you are a risk taker. Throughout the year you probably experienced difficult situation within your organizations. As leaders, we tend to make mistakes, which are to be expected. Bounce these issues off the people you connect with and get their perspective. You may find out that you are not alone, and others may view your issue differently.
Take time to explore vendors at these large conferences. Sure, they are trying to sell a product to you. Inquire why they chose the company they work with, see what got them started in their line of work. Allow them to do their jobs explaining the products and services they offer. Who knows, you might find something useful for your organization or your people. Be open to these conversations as well. It just could be a quality learning experience you never thought of.
How do you prioritize your learning experiences?
How do you plan to engage others in learning conversations?
Are you open to new ideas and willing to take risks?
Remember to be open to conversations with everyone at events you attend.
There are so many learning experiences around us on any given day. Pay attention to the individuals around you and make time to attend as many events as you can to extend your learning. Thank you once again for checking out this week’s post. I hope you find experiences that get you excited about your learning. I will be at the front table of my next conference, focused on my next learning experience. Have a great week!
Steven C. Bucks-Leading Conversations
