Voice
Get outta here
What
It’s easy to get settled in your seat and stuck in a rut, but there’s a whole world out there to explore. Industry events are a great way to broaden your mind to new ideas and meet new people. And, inevitably, are a good excuse to grab a drink and have a natter!
Benefits
For people
When you’ve a lot to do in your working day, there’s little time to think about whether you could be doing things differently or better. Giving yourself a timeout to go and listen to other people talk about how they do things can be a great way to help expand your skill set and open your mind to new ideas. With this extra info under your belt, you can work smarter, not harder.
Meeting people from your industry is a great way to unwind with people who share similar professional interests. Moreover, by chatting to people you might find there are opportunities for you guys to work together.
For planet
Bring your new found knowledge back into your office and share it with the people you work with. It may just help spark a new train of thought that helps someone solve a problem they’ve been mulling over. And if everyone does this, it could really help drive significant impact at your company.
How
Wondering where to find good events to go to? Here are some ideas.
1. Ask clued-up colleagues and friends for recommendations
2. Look for events hosted by your favourite publications or well-regarded academic institutions, and search their event websites.
3. Browse through local events on sites like Eventbrite and Meetup.
4. If you go to an event you like, ask fellow attendees what other local and related events they recommend.
Don't be over ambitious about how many events you can squeeze in, otherwise you'll burn out -not to mention you'll get rather behind on your core job! But be sure to block a bit of time out after each event to reflect and follow up on it.