cial media, customer service, finances, and professional growth and
leadership skills.
Small group learning
Many of the valuable takeaways that happen at the conference
come from small group learning and sidebar discussions. The Breakfast With Champions is a perfect example. Attendees choose from
approximately 80 topics, including recruiting, safety, human resources,
finance, public relations, marketing, and community service. Participants sit at tables that can accommodate a total of 10 individuals and
have in-depth discussions about their chosen topic. Each table is led
by a moderator who is an expert in the field, and learning happens
through peer discussions and real-world examples.
Last year, PLANET introduced its peer group program that is facilitated by the Wilson-Olyer Group. A 20-minute session describing
how peer groups work and the progress company owners make with
their personal business goals when they join a peer group will be presented by Bruce Wilson in the Learning Lounge.
Maximizing the educational experience
So how can you ensure that you are making the most of the conference? Joan Haller, PLANET's director of education and events, offers a few tips to conference attendees to help maximize their
experience:
* Create your game plan ahead of time. Prior to the conference,
read up on all the sessions and opportunities, and create a personal
schedule for yourself so you know exactly where you want to be
at what time to catch the sessions in which you are most interested.
* Make sure your conference education aligns with your business
goals. It helps to focus on one area of concentration at a conference.
Consider what your No. 1 business problem or focus is, then choose
the education session that best addresses it. If growing your business
is the No. 1 goal, then choose sessions about business development,
finance and marketing. If recruiting and building a strong workforce
is your priority, then choose all the sessions that relate to that topic.
That way, you really gather a lot of knowledge in one specific area.
Have other members of your company focus on other topics, and
then share the knowledge after the conference.
* Make time for personal meetings and dinners with colleagues.
Make sure there is time in your schedule to have coffee, lunch, or
dinner with other attendees. Either schedule appointments ahead of
time or make them during the conference. Conferences are a great
opportunity to grab 20 minutes with someone with whom you have
always wanted to connect. The face-to-face time is important in
building relationships.
* Have a networking goal. Determine your own goals in terms
of meeting new people. Perhaps you are recruiting, or you are looking
for subcontractors or mentors. Determine the types of people you
would like to meet that would help support your business goals, and
make it a priority to connect with those people. Set a goal of one,
five, or 10 new personal contacts.
LI
The Green Industry Conference, with all the different opportunities for education and networking, provides solutions for every type
of business issue or concern.
Article and photos provided by PLANET.
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