The importance of post-conference debriefing
Over the past few days, I attended a conference hosted by a non-profit organization for which I serve on the Board of Directors. Board members fulfill various tasks at the conference – serving as hosts for each of the breakout sessions, collecting donations for a fundraising campaign, greeting attendees as they arrive, and then getting a “pie in the face” when the fundraising goal was met. (It felt really good to take a shower after that!) I also led a session on self-management and was in my element in the classroom-type setting.
The attendees were wonderful. They were friendly, engaged, and enthusiastic. They have a passion for their work, but like many of us, they struggle with having to spend their time “putting out the fires” that seem to come up daily. They want to lead their organizations well, steward resources efficiently, and love their staff and volunteers wholeheartedly, but they are tired, stressed, and (for many) on the edge of burnout.
Attending a conference and being surrounded by people with common passions and goals can be exhilarating and refreshing. Seeking our own professional development, especially amidst the fellowship of our peers, is important and should be prioritized. In the middle of those fires, we often wonder, “how can I get away?” and “how big will the fires be when I get back?” Yet making the time to get away is a necessity.
But what do you do after that conference or meeting or webinar? How do you make time to think about and DO the ideas you learned about?
Remember the Eisenhower Matrix? The four quadrants:
Quadrant I: important and urgent (quadrant of urgency)
Quadrant II: important but not urgent (quadrant of quality or personal leadership)
Quadrant III: urgent but not important (quadrant of deception)
Quadrant IV: not urgent and not important (quadrant of waste)
Taking time to process what you learn from a professional development event is a Quadrant II activity – it’s important, but it’s usually not urgent (not pressing, no deadline, no one checking up on us). Yet if we do not prioritize this practice, then the workshop or conference or webinar is somewhat wasted. We gain from the networking, and maybe we were encouraged by our interactions, but we may not really use what we learned.
So here’s how we can turn this around…
When you sign up for a professional development event – whether it’s a multi-day conference or a one-hour webinar, schedule time for debriefing after the event. If you attend with people from your team, get that debriefing time on your calendars before the event even happens. If you try to schedule it afterwards, you will likely be unsuccessful because of the tsunami of Quadrants I and III waiting for you.
During the event, create a note-taking approach. During a session, when there is an idea you want to return to, highlight it, star it, or put a big “THINK ABOUT THIS” note by it. At the end of each day or session, note the takeaways.
After the event, and before the debriefing (if it’s a group thing), compile a list of your highlighted items, and then determine your three biggest takeaways. Encourage all team members to do the same.
During the debriefing, share your top 3 takeaways. Give time limits – this isn’t a planning session to make all of them happen – it’s a time to figure out what “sticks” – what’s important. You will be encouraged by the commonalities across the list, and you will learn through your colleagues from sessions you were unable to attend.
At the end of the debriefing, create a group “top 3” (or just 1 or 2, depending on how impactful the event was). This list can be incorporated into your future planning. (How to do that is another big topic!)
If you can find the time at the end of the conference, I love doing this before I get home. Even with a group, it’s great to plan one more meal (prior to travel home) to start this debriefing process. Doing it when you return is also great, but be prepared to stick to the plan and honor the time you set aside prior to the event.
If you are attending this event on your own, then the debriefing process is usually shorter; however, there is less accountability. You have to be the one to make the time to do it and prioritize its importance.
Our own development is important – and maximizing development opportunities reflects good stewardship, demonstrates you value yourself and your team, and is quite simply, a wise thing to do. Let ABL Wise Consulting help you make the most of your professional development.
pc: al vik via Unsplash
