Career

Make Your Case to Attend a Conference

Do you want to discover the spirit of innovation and inspiration at the 2014 NFPW Communications Conference?

The conference promises professional development and plenty of networking opportunities, both of which are important for your career.

When deciding whether to attend a conference, which often involves making the case to attend to your boss (or helping yourself decide to make the investment in yourself), consider these areas: program, networking, fees and recharging.

Is the conference program jam-packed with workshops that will have some benefit for you, your team and your organization?

The 2014 NFPW conference will focus on three areas:

  • Develop Your Digital Impact
  • Create Innovative Communications
  • Modernize Your Professional Profile

Within those areas are topics such as Leveraging the Right Digital Tools to Tell Your Story; Are You A Social Media Wallflower?; Why Local Is Still Important; and How To Stand Out In Your Genre. I already know I’m going to have a difficult time choosing which workshops to attend.

Next consider the networking opportunities, which enable you to establish connections with outstanding communicators. At least year’s conference, I learned about a member who was in the book publishing business. I contacted her because my company needed a book publisher, and hers was able to meet our needs. My colleagues were impressed that I could find someone so quickly.

When I applied for a recent job, I reached out to members I had met who worked in higher education. I received lots of great tips to help me as I prepared for my interviews.

We all like to save money. If you register for the conference by Aug. 8 you will save $50 off the conference registration. If it’s your first time attending a conference, you can apply for a first-timer grant, which will cover the cost of registration. Most conferences have an early-bird rate.

CaptureThose reasons should satisfy your employer as you state your case to attend.

Another great reason to attend is that you can recharge and recalibrate. Taking a break from the office is important to health and productivity. I always return re-energized because I meet others who face similar challenges and frustrations. Even if we don’t solve the problem, we feel better discussing it, but most often I come back with ideas to implement.

NFPW conferences also give you a break. If you have a few vacation days, it’s worth it to sign up for a pre-tour of post tour. The conference organizers know their state and provide you with wonderful glimpses into their world.

Of course, you can turn that into a working vacation. This year’s conference organizers are introducing “Media Marketplace,” a unique news-gathering exchange that brings the stories to freelancers and travel writers.

With all these reasons to attend conference, what are you waiting for? Register now!

 

Setting Boundaries Is Key to Balance

While on vacation, I responded to a few work emails while I was waiting for transportation. Everyone I emailed, immediately responded with “Stop emailing! You’re on vacation.”

Taking a vacation is one way to recharge. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

Taking a vacation is one way to recharge. (Photo by Cynthia Price)

They were right to tell me to stop. Fortunately, one of them also was my boss.

It’s important to take a break from work, or anything else that consumes a lot of your time. By taking the break, you can reenergize and “sharpen your saw,” as author Stephen Covey says.

For the rest of my vacation, I only checked emails twice and that was to delete the ones that I wouldn’t need when I returned. It felt good to know that I wouldn’t face a few hundred emails upon my return. I saw no critical or time-sensitive email subject lines and, therefore, didn’t open any emails.

I thoroughly relaxed on my vacation as a result, and came back fully charged.

Giving yourself a vacation is one way to ensure you have good work life balance and the opportunity to recharge. It’s also a way of setting boundaries.

Another way is to set a start time and end time to your day. As someone working in PR, there will always be another deadline and another project. It’s important for me to set boundaries to arrive and leave at reasonable hours. I allow myself one day a week for a slightly longer day. This allows me to dig deep into a project or move many items forward a bit. The other days, I leave on time. In the past, I’ve asked others to stop by my office on their way out to remind me that it was time to go home. I no longer need that reminder so I know I’m making progress.

I also have established expectations with my supervisor and colleagues. An email after hours usually doesn’t require a response, but a text message or a phone call does. I’ve set different alert tones so I can be more attuned to texts and phone calls.

It’s important to establish boundaries. “If you cannot establish boundaries for yourself, you cannot expect others to do it for you,” says Michael D. Watkins, author of The First 90 Days.

One area I still need to work on is scheduling time for exercise, which is a great way to clear the mind and, often problem solve. I’ve managed to get out of the habit, but with an amazing gym facility where I now work, I simply need to establish my schedule. I’m starting this week by marking in my calendar which two days I will go to the gym. I’m starting with an achievable goal and will add days to it.

Finding balance and ways to recharge are your responsibility. What are you doing to achieve that balance? I’d love to hear your ideas and see if there are any I can try.

References Made Easy

The other day I received a call from a recruiter who wanted to know more about an individual who had been an intern on my team three years ago.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t help, and it’s not that I didn’t want to.

I work with lots of interns, and, unfortunately, I couldn’t remember the specific work this person had done because it was a few year’s ago. What would have been helpful is if the person had reached out to me in advance, told me about the position and provided me with some highlights of her work.

When you are seeking a job, think about the individuals whom you will ask to be your references. It’s a good idea to keep a list of three to seven references and all of their contact details at the ready. That way, you can choose the individuals who can best talk about you in terms of a specific skill set or organizational culture. For example, in my current job, one of my references discussed my crisis communications skills.

Even if you have used a person before as a reference, reach out to the person and ask his permission. Be sure to tell him about the job you are applying for and why it’s important to you. Also let him know which of your skills should be emphasized. You may want to provide him with talking points.

Whether you land the job or not, let your references know the outcome. It’s an appropriate way to continue networking and maintaining the relationship.

Re-entry Following Vacation

Returning to work following a vacation can be a challenge. A few steps taken before you leave and immediately following your return can help make the return to the workplace less stressful.

Totem: Most of us are a different, more relaxed person when we are on vacation. I aspire to that state year-round, but, of course, it doesn’t happen. However, when I bring back a small souvenir of my trip and place it on my desk or make my computer background a photo from the trip, I am reminded of that serene person. It helps on frantic days.

Emails: I always turn on my out-of-office reply a day before I leave. This way I can have a day where I am able to handle the projects that I had planned to clear instead of addressing new ones.

Goals: Before I leave I pull out my goals so that on my return I can look at those and focus my energy for the week. Sometimes upon returning it’s too easy to get distracted by the unimportant.

Clear your calendar: I block my calendar the morning of my return to the office. This provides me a window to touch base with my team and review the status of projects. I also use the time to handle pressing emails.

Graduate Advice Good to Follow

Give yourself the permission of time is the advice that Gale Goodson Butler, executive vice president and creative content leader of Meredith Corporation’s National Media group and editor-in-chief of the Better Homes and Gardens brand, told graduates at the University of Richmond earlier this month.

She was advising students to seek their purpose, whether it is fighting for the environment or making a difference in the world. “For most of us, a sense of purpose develops over time,” she said.

Butler’s advice, while intended for graduates, is a good reminder for all of us.

She also told graduates:

  • Find your voice and own your bold.
  • Keep getting smarter. In today’s world that means keeping up with technology and being smarter about collaboration.
  • Keep connected. Reaching out to others – whether it’s texts, phone calls or face-to-face – is critical in today’s world, whether for career networking or for personal connections.
  • Stay whole.

She encouraged the graduates to write down the elements that allow them to function in a healthy state. “Think of it as a written selfie,” she said. “This will help you rebalance.”

I particularly like the last one. When I taught media ethics, one assignment I gave students was to develop their personal mission statement. Knowing who you are and what is important to you helps to guide you in your life decisions. It’s also good to go back and review it occasionally because sometimes we all need to recalibrate.

Instead of taking a selfie today, why not create your written selfie?