Surviving Conferences

In his April blog post, ASQ CEO Paul Borawski asks, "What’s your advice for getting the most from  a conference or networking event?"

Yes, I am planning to once again attend the ASQ World Conference on Quality & Improvement (WCQI). I have attended nearly every WCQI/AQC event since 1990. As an officer of either the Statistics Division or the MN Section many of the related WCQI trip expenses have been shared between my employer and the ASQ member unit for whom I was an officer, or complimentary as a conference speaker. This annual networking experience has proven to be a win-win for my personal development, my employer's benefit, and the ASQ member unit.

Conferences such as the WCQI and the ASQ LSS are an excellent opportunity to build one's professional network. I bring a handful of business cards and, of course, my smartphone. Apps like LinkedIn's CardMunch and Evernote's Hello are great tools to quickly capture contact information and profiles. Social media apps such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, and many others are also very helpful collaboration tools. This year I plan to capture video via Viddy (for Facebook and Blogger) and Eyejot (for email) as I document my impressions and interactions at the WCQI for the benefit of others.

However, no number of electronic impressions can equal or replace the impact of face-to-face collaboration and networking. The receptions, luncheons, hospitality suites and 'After 5' sessions are other great venues to meet speakers, subject matter experts, and people like you exploring new learning and best practice sharing opportunities. I hope to see you at the Indianapolis WCQI, but if you cannot physically attend I encourage you follow my tweets and others' (#WCQI13) and/or follow the ASQ Influential Voices blog posts.