The Positive Effects of going to a Professional Conference

We live in a world where information is available at the tips of our fingers (using computers and smartphones) - this accessibility may make people less enthusiastic about attending a professional conference.  Why spend hundreds (and potentially thousands) of dollars on traveling, hotel, and registration fees when google.com can do all of the hard work for you, and spit back results in 0.02 seconds.

Personally, I've had the opportunity to go to 3 conferences in the past 4 months. In October of 2015, I travelled to Nashville, Tennessee for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (#FNCE). I also attended the Greater Seattle Dietetic Association's Fall Conference. Last month, I traveled to Baltimore, Maryland for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention/US Youth Soccer Workshop (#bmorenscaa) to speak on nutrition as well as learn as a soccer coach. 

Afterwards, I began to think about the different ways that attending a professional event can impact your life in positive ways:

• Rejuvenate your passion for your profession

We all go into our own professions for a number of different reasons. After the novelty or luster wears off, things can potentially become stale and monotonous. Every time I leave a conference, I feel a sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm for my profession. All of these people are doing great and different things, and I am inspired to do more, to help out and get involved. It's an amazing feeling to be in the presence of 10,000+ like-minded individuals who are dedicated to their profession. 

• Meet online friends and colleagues face to face/Networking

​Social media is a great tool to network and connect with people. I have an extensive amount of professional friends on Facebook, followers on Twitters, and connections on LinkedIn. It is truly great when you get to meet with your connections in person. It provides an opportunity to network and chat during and hopefully after the professional conference. You may end up working on a project after this connection, or get to know an expert in a different niche and can reach out to them when the time comes, and vice versa

• Get up to date information on the latest industry trends

We are all enmeshed in our own world - I am working with geriatric home-bound Veterans or youth athletes. The  Greater Seattle Dietetic Association's Fall Conference "An RDs Role in Sustainable Food Systems," was a great 2 hours of enrichment with excellent speakers in Jenna Newbrey and Irana Hawkins.  I left the conference feeling enthusiastic about the nutrition profession. There are so many things that we can do in the nutrition profession and it was great to see and hear about the various ways that Registered Dietitians are helping to promote sustainability and educate about food waste. Listen in on topics familiar, but also be daring and listen to things that stimulate your curiosity - you never know, perhaps this one session may send your career into a different direction. 

• Education 

I am all about professional enrichment. There is always one or two or three things that you can take away from an educational session. Or better yet, you could think about the different ways that you would present or work in your setting. Stimulating your mind is great nourishment for your personal and professional aspirations. We need education credits for recertification and attending a conference is a great and easy way to gather 20-25 credits.

The truth of the matter is that there are so many local, state, national and international conferences to attend. Set a goal to attend at least one event a year (if possible) and work to see if your job-site will cover you. My payment back for attending FNCE is that I develop a presentation for my co-workers. It's a win-win - I learn new things, I develop a presentation (covering multiple topics), and I eventually present this information. This improves my skills as a speaker, and also keeps me up to date with the latest and greatest information.

Are there any other ways that attending a conference can have a positive impact? Leave a comment and let's hear it