In the digital age, face-to-face time with colleagues and potential mentors is becoming rarer. But it may be more important than ever.
According to the research:
- Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships.
- Education and training are more effective in a live setting.
- Live meetings actually save time and money.
- Live meetings result in a more effective exchange of ideas.
Plus, it can be fun and personally rewarding to expand your professional horizons, travel to a new city, and get exposure to ideas and experiences beyond the scope of your workaday routine.
With time and budget constraints, however, supervisors aren't always enthusiastic about approving conference attendance expenditures. Here are a few ways to get their support.
1. Go with a goal. Review the conference agenda and session topics. Explicitly connect the meeting content with your office's mission and goals.
2. Review the vendor list. Find out what exhibitors will be at the meeting. What do you need to know from them? The meeting is an opportunity to have multiple competitors in the same place at the same time, and get your questions answered.
3. Leverage your learning. Make a plan to share what you have learned upon your return. Who else can benefit from this resource? How will you share the information--presentation, meeting, email?
4. Personalize a justification letter. Visit AACRAO's Technology and Transfer website for a helpful justification letter template.
5. Compare the meeting costs with other professional development courses and opportunities. The return-on-investment is likely to come out in the conference's favor.
The new fiscal year begins this week!
Use the above tips to show how excited and committed you are to your professional development--and hopefully we'll see you in Anaheim, California, July 10-12, 2016, for AACRAO's Technology and Transfer Conference! Find featured speakers, a program agenda, and an exhibitor list on the meeting website.