By Shelly Steenhorst Baker, Director, Prospect Research & Pipeline
I often feel like a “Rock Star” at APRA Canada conferences. After years of being a presenter, I am well known and often sought out for networking.
At the 2014 APRA Canada Conference, I gave two presentations. The sessions were very successful (though I have yet to receive my formal feedback), and I enjoyed the opportunity to both share knowledge with, and learn from, my industry peers.
In fact, I make it a point to present at least once a year and since 2010, have made five presentations on topics ranging from prospect management and metrics to research tracking systems (see sidebar).
Today, I like to share some of the benefits (and joys) of being a presenter, with the hope that it will inspire you to do so one day too.
Contribute To and Learn About the Most Recent Advances In YOUR Field
Some of you will be surprised to know that as a presenter, you often learn as much from your participants as you would attending the session.
Conference presentations allow you to present your data, process or ideas during many stages of development, (e.g., preliminary findings, recently implemented process, or data that is waiting to be implemented). They are an important part of professionalization, and offer the chance to receive valuable feedback from colleagues, which will help you when you ultimately implement your work, or in your ongoing improvements.
We’ve all at some point been disappointed to find that there is not a session devoted to an issue or project we‘re working on. Be that session! You don’t necessarily need to have all the answers. Instead, lead a group-think around an issue to help others also struggling to come up with a way of moving forward. In my session on Metrics, the most valuable part for me was the discussion about how people structure metrics in their various shops, why and what works. It is not field abound with shared knowledge, books and references, so such information sharing is often only done at conferences.
You also have the opportunity to attend exciting talks and sessions at the conference. My work sees the added value in my attendance when I am speaking as well as attending sessions.
Advocate For Your Organization
Perhaps one of the most important benefits from conference presentations is the ability to advocate for your organization. Representing your field of interest allows colleagues across the country to become aware of the innovative work being generated in your organization and contributes to your organization’s reputation.
Learn How To Talk About Your Work
Conferences provide a platform to practice your presentation skills and can help you develop the expertise needed to discuss your work in a clear and meaningful way. Learning how to answer specific questions and present your work to a range of individuals (who may or may not be familiar with your area of research) will help you in other endeavors, including presentations to staff outside of your team (including senior leadership), training sessions, future conference presentations, and in coaching/mentoring direct reports.
Contribute To Your Overall Resume and Professional Profile
A history of conference presentations will show potential employers that you are a leader in your field, helping to establish best practices and keeping up-to-date on the cutting-edge research. Moreover, many conferences offer scholarships and awards which if won, can be added to your list of awards and honors. These lines on your resume may be the deciding factor between you and other potential job candidates.
Networking with peers who share common interests may also open doors for future employment, allowing you to learn of available positions earlier than those who rely on job advertisements. Furthermore, making yourself recognizable to future employers can increase your likelihood of being considered for a position.
Stepping away from the job market, this work also helps those outside your area/team see your professionalism and can make your job easier when trying to convince them to adopt best practices. My presentation at CASE was highlighted to several of our fundraisers in their discussions with colleagues at other institutions and helped raise my profile with them, as well as them sharing that information with my boss.
Meet Colleagues In Your Field And Potential Contacts For Future Work and Hiring
The presentations that you give and attend are likely to be frequented by those with similar interests, giving you the opportunity to discuss your work and learn valuable information from people working with similar techniques, research teams, and organizations.
Establishing contacts helps foster friendships with motivated colleagues who can be resources for you at any stage of your career. For example, I often find those who have attended my sessions are more open and faster to respond to requests for current practices when I am completing best practice reviews.
It is easier to recruit when your team has a reputation as a trail-blazer and a commitment towards professional development. Those who have heard you speak will have a familiarity with your organization, team and style, which can have the effect of making a position within your team more attractive to apply for.
Conclusion
The more you present, the more you get out of it. After years of presentations, most people at APRA and beyond know of my team and who I am, making it easier to make personal connections and grow my professional network. In short, attending and presenting at conferences offers a myriad of opportunities. I hope you answer the call to present the next time it comes!