Last week my colleague and I traveled to the IECA Conference
in Scottsdale, Arizona! In addition to presenting two breakout sessions, I met a
lot of great people whom I hope I can reconnect with this spring in IECA Boston! After I returned to CT, I took some time to reflect on my trip and created a list of the 4 Lessons I Learned at IECA in Scottsdale, Arizona. Enjoy!
1) In New Situations, It Is New For Everyone
Being in a new state at an IECA conference
for the first time, reminded me what it is like for our students to begin
anything new in college – orientation, a first student club meeting, new job,
etc. I initially felt like a fish out of water not knowing where the conference
rooms were located, finding the restrooms, and trying to figure out a new daily
schedule filled with sessions, receptions, and meetings. When you grow
comfortable in daily routines, either at home or at work, it can be a very
positive thing to place yourself in a situation where you are uncomfortable and
‘need to learn the ropes.’ It is a very humbling experience. I soon realized
that everyone attending the conference was as new to the experience as I was. I
began to feel comfortable when I overhead someone else ask where lunch was
being held. I felt honored to be the guide to showed others where the bathroom
was located. Toward the end of our second day, I finally felt comfortable asking
for directions or asking for the password for the Internet in the lobby - again.
My
self-consciousness was gone and as they say, “Everything is difficult before
it is easy.”
2)
Appreciate Those Who Do Their Job Well
Many times during my trip I met employees
who went out of their way to help me and went above and beyond their job
description. My shuttle driver who picked me up at the airport in Pheonix went
out of his way to bring me to a drugstore so I could buy a few things I needed
for my trip. Even though he was about to finish his shift, he was kind enough
to wait while I ran into Walgreens to get a lint roller! The first night I was
in Scottsdale I wanted to video chat with my daughters to say goodnight. The
conference center didn’t have a private room for me to make this phone call, so
I ended up in the adjacent spa building right before they closed. The two
employees brought me a chair and showed me to a private room so I could talk to
my children before bedtime. I learned to appreciate the kindness of others who
went above and beyond their jobs and they influenced me to be a more patient
and understanding person too.
3)
Conversational Opportunities are Everywhere
This lesson #3 I have to admit that I have
heard before from my husband and I suppose by including it on my list this is
my way of saying “You were right.” Ron Samul is one of the most outgoing people
I know who is always ready to strike up a conversation with a stranger. He
seeks out interesting people in hopes of learning something new about them or
hearing a fun, crazy story (we all have those crazy stories from our past to
tell!). On my trip, I tried to intentionally start conversations with everyone
I met from the shuttle drivers, to the bellmen, and the workers in the gift
shops. Everyone has a story and it is great practice to be genuinely interested
in others’ stories by saying hello and asking ‘How are you?’ to those you meet.
During our trip. Tammy and I met many nice
educational consultants and administrators in colleges and gap year programs.
One of the groups that we met was the inspiration for lesson #4 (and they may
be reading this post right now). During lunch I asked them which sessions they
were planning on attending that afternoon and the group’s answer surprised me –
instead of attending sessions they were going to visit the conference center’s
pool and Lazy River! The more I thought it, the more I understood their
perspective – attend the sessions they found interesting and then enjoy
themselves. One of the greatest benefits of attending this conference for me
was networking with other professionals. Attendees were constantly giving and
taking business cards and almost everyone was meeting for the first time. Ironically,
the meals and social gatherings (more so than the informational sessions) were
where relationships were built and business cards were exchanged. I wonder if
the same thing happened in the Lazy River – maybe this spring at the next IECA
conference I will bring business cards that are waterproof!
