Employees are resources in the same way that time and money are resources, but unlike time and money it is possible to get more out of employees with investments in their potential, making it possible to see increased gains by hosting an employee development conference. These conferences are a bit different than the standard fare, with more need to keep every employee integrated into every presentation and performance.
THE BASICS OF ORGANIZING AN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
Management needs to be pro-active in order to determine how the conference will unfold. The highest priority is to set up a strategy about how the conference will help the company, being as specific as possible. Target, whenever possible, the departments that are performing at a level that is less than optimal. Send an email about to each employee that identifies the conference as well as some of the objectives that the business would like to see achieved from its activities.
GUESTS SPEAKERS AT EMPLOYEE CONFERENCES
The choice to bring in an outside speaker for your conference can be a good one, but if the goal is inclusion and company performance it might be a better idea to have an executive or manager speak instead. While it is not necessary to have a keynote speech, it is a great way to get everyone together and to really harp on the goals of the conference so that there is no confusion about what to expect and how each employee can gain from the day’s events.
ARRANGE FOR EVERY NEED
A conference is no different from any other large gathering, such as that of a sporting event, in that it needs to take track of every human need. Make sure that there is enough space for every person to have elbow room and comfortable seating, with about five to ten square feet of room per person. Have lunch catered or provide enough time for employees to leave the office to get their own lunch (give more than the standard lunch hour) and ensure that there are no problems with the restroom facilities.
FOLLOW-UP
The aftermath of a conference can be just as important as the actual events. Archive a video recording of the most important presentations and speakers so that any employee can go back and look up the day’s events. Circulate a memo thanking everyone for their time and interest, identifying anything important that may have passed over without much attention, and take suggestions about future events.
