Pub. 1 2019-20 Issue 2

Issue 1 2020 11 WVADA Y our time is valuable. So are your financial resources. That being the case, why should you invest the time and money in attending an association convention? Couldn’t you have just as much impact professionally by participating in something like social media? Social media is important, of course, and doing it well can be vital to career development. But there is just no substitute for seeing people face-to-face and talking to them. WVADA pro- vides a valuable way to get you in a room with other people, learning from each other; the other resources they provide will strengthen you professionally as well. You would be surprised at the number and variety of resources that are available to you through an association event. The Pitch for Professional Development The top reasons why convention attendance should be a must-do item on your list include the following: » Contacts, contacts, contacts: Everyone talks about the im- portance of networking, but a lot of people don’t under- stand what networking really is. It’s a network of friend- ships and acquaintances, some strong, some weak, and it isn’t something you lock in your desk and expect to keep fresh. If you know someone and never call them or have any regular contact with them, there’s always a chance that your friendship will not starve a slow and lonely death. More likely is that you will begin the slide away from each other. To thrive, any relationship will benefit from regu- lar feeding. A cell phone call or a blog entry is better than nothing. But don’t you want to raise the bar just a little? A convention is a great excuse for getting together. Share a lecture, a meal, a laugh. Done right, it will build you profes- sionally. It might also be fun. » Feeding your brain: How long can you expect to stay at the top of your field — or even just get there in the first place — if you don’t ever put yourself in situations where you can get a lot of different information from a lot of different sources in a short period of time? There’s a collective synergy that can only come to life when you have many competent, professional people all in the same room, ready to talk shop. Don’t fool yourself: search engines can never replace personalized, expert information de- livered in real time. You’ll find out about trends, legislation, and important issues by becoming a member and actively choosing to participate. The Game Plan To get the most out of any convention, you need to start ahead of time. » Do the research. You want to get an idea of what the program will be so you can make best use of your time. You should also read any available publications so you can figure out who the important players are, and what it is that people are currently involving themselves in. Figuring out where to spend the time might be a challenge; you may have to make some difficult choices. Which speakers will teach you the most?What subjects could have the most benefit for your life? Who are the most im- portant people to meet? » Focus on being more extroverted than usual. Arrive early, stay late, and look for opportunities to meet people. If you are shy and talking to strangers is hard for you to do, focus on trying to make it easier for other people to talk to you. Strangers don’t have to stay strangers. Getting into a genuine conversation can happen with remarkable speed once you identify some com- mon interests. At the same time, be polite, but make sure you continue to circulate. You will be in many different social situa- tions while you are at the convention. Each one is an opportuni- ty for another new conversation. » Pay attention to the professional information that is presented. Education is a privilege in all of its forms. The things you learn during a convention may change or enhance your career direc- tion significantly. » Bring business cards, and exchange themwith other people. It’s easier to reconnect later with someone if you do. » Keep initial conversations light. The first time you talk to someone is probably not the time to talk about your child- hood dreams and aspirations. Instead, ask questions about subjects that are of interest to you, such as finding out major employers in our field, ways to get involved, and skills to fo- cus on for improvement. » Take advantage of discounts and handouts. There may be prod- uct and service exhibits that would help you, and the convention cost may be lower than it would normally be. After the Convention The convention should continue to benefit you after you leave: » Your association may offer professional services to members, the acess to which came from the convention. Youmay also find as a result of your access to directories and journals. » Seasoned professionals may decide to mentor you. » Put the knowledge you gained to work, and continue to collect more insight as you go along. » Most important of all, look for service and leadership opportu- nities where you could benefit others, then make sure you give these opportunities your best efforts. You might end up writing and publishing articles, serving and eventually leading commit- tees, influencing legislation, and becoming one of the must- meet attendees yourself. t Why Should You Participate in WVADA’s Convention?