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Celisa – Excellent point about need. So often conferences are more of an interruption in the flow of my learning needs than a natural part of it. Makes me wonder if some enterprising org couldn’t take the approach of pulling the trigger on a conference when some sort of “critical mass” of learning need is hit in the field – e.g., when some big regulatory change occurs, etc. Of course, that would probably be best done online! – Jeff
ReplyI know I’m not very good at networking at conferences. Partly that can be ascribed to the fact that I’m an introvert and don’t necessarily thrive on a high quantity of interactions in short time (the traditional conference recipe). But I think another part is that learning tends to happen best (better?) when there’s a real need. Online networking allows you to post a question when it arises during your daily life and work. Conferences are scheduled without your input and may or may not coincide with a real need you have for learning something. Thanks for the post, Jeff–it did get me thinking.
ReplyDiana – Thanks so much for commenting. I envy you and your old farmhouse and I particularly like the May Day analogy!
Ellen – Always great to have your insights and questions. (And it is high on my list to get over to your blog to comment on some your great recent posts!)
RE: the value in conferences – I think there is value in the networking (though I’ve probably understated that), I’m just not sure it is the source of educational value that people think it is. Sharing experiences and creating culture are, in themselves, a type of learning, in my opinion – and it may be that when people talk about the importance of networking at conferences, that’s what they really have in mind (though likely only in a vague way).
I think that point perhaps connects in to your second question – or at least gives an additional spin to it. Not only do organizations reach only a fraction of their members with their face-to-face educational programs, they only reach a fraction of them with the shared culture/experience aspect of conferences – which I think is an even bigger issue. In most instances, shared culture/experience is likely a more viable ground on which orgs can distinguish themselves competitively than education, but if they are leaving a large part of their membership out of that…
We’re already seeing it to some extent, but I suspect that more and more organizations will see conferences as a catalyst for connecting more of the membership base into the culture/experience online. And I am betting that education will end up being a key “social object” in building the bridge between the two.
Jeff
ReplyJeff — Thanks for posting this! I’ve networked much more widely online than I ever have from face-to-face conference events. I agree that conferences are more about re-connecting than making new contacts.
But if it’s primarily about the networking, why not just pay the hotel and airfare, skip the conference, and schedule to meet your peeps at after the day’s events at a restaurant or pub or cafe? Or — if I really have a need to see that person, why not just arrange to see them on their turf? You could save the conference registration fee and probably stay someplace for a lower hotel rate, and for fewer nights.
So a few questions arise from your post, Jeff:
1. Where’s the real value in those conferences, if not the networking? Maybe there’s some value to the educational sessions, but those do not usually result in transferable knowledge or skills. (I suppose if certification 0r recertification is tied to attendance, then that’s a motivator for attending, if not learning.)
2. Is it worth spending all that time and energy on a conference that will reach a fraction of your membership, when there are so many more members and potential members who will not be attending? Is that the best use of the association’s resources?
Why not have just the trade show so vendors can network and members can see an array of ideas or possible solutions to their issues?
ReplyI couldn’t agree with you more, Jeff. For the past three years I have been working out of an old farmhouse (converted into an office) in the middle of corn fields and a world away from the face-to-face networking that used to be part of my daily routine. Online networking has been my saving grace. It has opened up new areas of interest and dialogue with people from many walks of life. I love how getting online each day is like a May Day celebration – colorful ribbons of conversations, information, newsfeeds, etc. woven together. It is such a privilege to learn from so many sources and contribute pieces of my own along the way.
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