they understand it. Even if it does not impact their routine, per se, it may affect their understanding of what you do and how they explain this to your patients when asked. About your staff. If your new strategy requires a change in your staff’s activities, make sure they understand exactly what you want from them, and why. Clarity is the best way to have your CHAs aligned with, and supporting, your practice fo-cus and goals. If your staff members were also at the conference, listen to the ideas they have collected, and decide, as a team, which ones might be worth develop-ing into a practice strategy. Give them an opportunity to share new concepts with the group, so that they all can learn from each other’s experience. Be pre-pared to answer questions and educate them further on your practice and chi-ropractic in general. These teaching ses-sions will be invaluable to them and will enhance their experience and cohesion as a practice team. Take the opportunity to formally as-sess any new strategy (as a team, where applicable) after a trial period which you have set. This does two things: 1. It allows you to avoid discarding, too soon, something that could be very effective. 2. It avoids dragging on something that you, and/or the team, feel is not working, and gives you an out without anyone feeling as though their ideas were not given their full due. Any conference or CE event is only as good as its benefit to you, as a practitio-ner and a person, and to your practice. That benefit could be clinical, admin-istrative, philosophical/therapeutic or network oriented – ideally, it could be a combination of all of the above. All ben-efits will impact how your patients are cared for. Therefore, do not consider CE or professional development opportuni-ties as trivial extra-curricular events, but as investments in yourself and your prac-tice, and toward optimal care for your pa-tients. Choose events carefully and plan how you will harness them thoughtfully. Upon returning to your practice, strate-gize which ideas you will implement and how. Only with a systemized approach to your continuing education activities will their benefits truly be realized. • 12 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2010 Tips on Maximizing the Conference Experience We have already learned that this process does not begin with the plane ride to where-ever, but that it, in fact, begins well before that. The following tips expand on this concept while considering the days at the event: Preparation tips: (about a week in advance) 1. Choose sessions ahead of time. 2. Write down questions you’d like answered and/or goals you’d like to accomplish. Discuss goals with your staff, if they are attending as well. 3. Try to stay at the hotel of the conference or very close by. 4. Make sure you have a good supply of business cards. Even if you are not speaking, selling something or otherwise intending to advertise yourself, al-ways bring business cards so that others can have your contact information to remember you by. It may open up unexpected networks or opportunities! 5. Choose your wardrobe. Before you poo-poo this, consider the last time you tried to concentrate in a pair of ill-fitting shoes or made a bad impression because you were inappropriately dressed. Have extras with you. (Trust me on this one.) Wardrobe malfunctions can result in expensive emergency pur-chases and valuable time lost from your conference and networking. 6. Plan your travel so that you arrive in time to attend everything you need to. Know when registration is and plan to arrive early so you don’t miss lectures because you’re caught in a line-up. On the day of the conference 1. If you usually perform a workout routine in the morning, plan to do so during your conference. It will energize you for a long day, and expand your willingness to be open to new concepts. 2. Charge your electronic devices such as tape recorders and cameras, etc. (Put phones/mobile devices on vibrate.) 3. Make sure you have enough supplies to write with/on. These may be provided at the event, but bring your own, just in case. Have a snack in your briefcase -it’s hard to concentrate when you’re hungry and getting up in the middle of a presentation to go buy food is disruptive to you and to others. 4. Carry a time piece – a watch, mobile device, etc. Show up for lectures on time. 5. Wear nametags where they can be seen. Give business cards out freely. 6. Engage with speakers and colleagues after/between talks. You’ll be amazed at how many useful ideas and leads you can pick up during informal conversation, and follow up on later. 7. Avoid hanging out with your co-workers. Spend this valuable time to learn from other people whom you’ve never met before. 8. That said, do plan to spend some quality time with your coworkers, clients, or colleagues with whom you have closer associations. Go for lunch, or a dinner, after the lectures are done for the day. Outside of the office setting, it can be an opportunity to share ideas, revise plans or simply just to bond. 9. Visit vendor/service booths if there is a tradeshow. You might alight upon some useful ideas and products to integrate into your practice. As well, this will give you and them an opportunity to chat about what’s new in the profession, fostering cohesiveness between all those elements that keep your practice and profession going. 10. Attend the galas and social events, if you can. This is a spectacular op-portunity to expand on relationships with those in your field, and those who service your profession. www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor September 2010: Page 12
