Written by: Alan Shoebridge, SHSMD Immediate Past President

Associate Vice President, National Communications, Providence, Portland, OR

I've had Oct. 13 marked on my calendar for months, and now the SHSMD Connections conference is almost here. I can’t wait.

While many people enjoy going to conferences, others are skeptical of their worth. I count myself as an optimist on the value of leaving your bubble and attending events like the SHSMD Connections conference.

Here are my top five reasons why attending a conference is so valuable:

1. Meeting new people
2. Re-engaging with your connections
3. Team building
4. Learning/getting new ideas
5. Benchmarking what YOU are doing

I’ll briefly explain each of these below.

Meeting new people

The value of networking and meeting new people is hard to understate. Why? It’s essential to career growth and getting new perspectives. As a natural introvert, it takes effort for me to network at events. However, over the years I’ve had countless development and content opportunities come from networking at conferences.

Some people question the value of building a network if they aren’t actively looking for a new job. That’s short-sighted. A powerful network can help you in many other ways besides job-searching. And building a network isn’t just about you. Meeting new people can be an opportunity for you to help others through mentoring or sharing best practices.

In addition, checking in with solution providers helps you get resources and strategies to enhance your work. Many of them are exhibiting and presenting content at the conference.

Re-engaging with your connections

It’s important to maintain relationships. That can be done virtually, but conferences give you a natural opportunity to connect and spend dedicated time with people you value. There are so many ways to do this. Setting up coffee, attending a presentation or event, and stopping by a solution provider’s booth are all good ways to connect.

Team building

If multiple members of your team are attending an event, it’s a great opportunity to do some team building. In fact, with so many of us working virtually now, a conference might be one of the only times during the year when you can spend dedicated time in-person with colleagues. Even for those rare people who see each other all the time, a new setting offers the chance to step away from the typical daily distractions.

Learning/getting new ideas

I don’t know everything. You don’t know everything. Nobody does. When large groups come together to address issues they have in common, you get exposed to valuable information and strategies. SHSMD Connections offers you the unique opportunity to hear from others about what they are doing. What’s working. And even more valuable sometimes, what’s not working.

Benchmarking what YOU are doing

We tend to be harder on ourselves, teams and organizations when we have limited context to judge our work. I always come away from our annual conference with a few ideas that would be new for me or my team.

Making the most of your conference experience

OK, so I hope I’ve given you some food for thought about why going to conferences is valuable and how you should be thinking about your upcoming time in Denver. Here are some simple actions to remember before, during and after the conference.

What to do before the conference:

• Download the event app. Check your email for instructions
• Sign up for a 15-minute mentoring session to discuss your career goals and challenges with a seasoned industry professional
• Share your plans to attend with your connections! Spread the word using the hashtag #SHSMD24 and the social media toolkit

What to do during the conference:

• Be present and pay attention during the sessions you attend
• Participate in social media conversations and read the recaps
• Join a networking session. Meet up with peers who share your interests
• Select and save your favorite content

What to do after the conference:

• Schedule any follow-up meetings with new connections and solution providers ASAP
• Share what you learn with others from your team and organization

Going to SHSMD’s annual conference is always a fun experience, but it can be even better when you plan ahead for how you’ll get the most out of your time.

I look forward to seeing you in Denver!