Guest Author: Penny Abrahams, IAP-L, ISM Senior Consultant
If you’re like most private-independent school administrators, you fill your summers with that long list of projects you’ve put on hold … a few precious days of much-needed vacation … and an equally important chunk of time focused on your own professional development.
And let’s face it, while professional development is vital to stay on top of your game, it’s also a big investment of both time and financial resources.
I’m in the process of preparing to lead a couple of summertime professional development workshops for ISM. That got me thinking about students I’ve had through the years who have gotten the most out of their PD experiences — and why.
What has been the difference for those who achieved tangible, measurable results versus those who check in, check out, and don’t move the needle when they get back to their schools?
After lots of unscientific research (read … thinking in the shower), I have determined there are six things you should do to get the most from your professional development time and dollars. These tips are based on my 15 years of leading PD workshops and lots more as a participant. Perhaps some of these tips will resonate with you.
#1 – Come prepared.
Devote an hour before arriving at your PD experience to review any communications materials you’ve received — agendas, workshop descriptors, materials you should bring with you, attendee lists, etc. Download and set up that conference app. That little bit of time you set aside for planning will save you from feeling lost halfway through the first day — both literally and figuratively.
#2 – Be present.
The emails at the office will wait. I promise. They will be there when you get back to school, just like they are every Monday morning — like magic!
It’s just like high school. If you sit near the front of the room, ask questions, and stay off the internet, you’ll learn more, and you won’t miss the important stuff. Unlike high school, you don’t need a hall pass for the bathroom, and you won’t get detention for chewing gum.
#3 – Be a teacher’s pet.
No apples required. Whether it’s a short track session at a big conference or a full-week deep dive with a few faculty members, don’t be shy. Seek out your workshop leaders and the speakers you enjoy most. Have them weigh in on a challenge you’ve experienced at your school and swap contact info so you can stay in touch later. Ask them to grab coffee with you to continue the conversation.
Those who lead these workshops do it because they believe in building connections, they want to share their experiences and learn from those they teach, and they want to help mentor their peers.
My 2018 New Marketing Communications Directors Workshop. I’m hiding behind the “i” because the participants were the stars of the show.
#4 – Maintain connections.
Most private-independent school conferences provide lots of networking time. And there is nothing like having an unbiased group of professionals you can reach out to for advice when you need it. But collecting business cards and making promises to stay in touch won’t do you any good if you don’t follow through.
When you get back to your office — before you even answer that *urgent* email awaiting you — send LinkedIn invitations to your new contacts (and please take the time to write a personal note on each invite). Then schedule a quarterly reminder to check in and see how their school year is going. Are you attending another professional development event? Ask if your contacts will be there. If so, arrange a meetup.
#5 – Choose 3.
Attending workshops and conferences can feel like drinking from a firehose. You get so many new ideas and takeaways that you don't know where to begin. What happens instead? You get back to campus — and do nothing.
Why choose three things? You can’t do everything, nor should you even attempt it. Pick three impact items you can take back to school, and focus your efforts there. One of those “to dos” should be a quick win — something you can accomplish in 30 to 60 days. “Three” may not sound like much, but it’s just the right amount, because it’s realistic and doable. You will build momentum and, most importantly, advance the mission of your school.
#6 – Be accountable.
You’ve chosen three strategic, impactful “to dos” to bring back to your school. Now, take it a step further.
- Write. Them. Down.
- Determine the tactics you need to use to achieve your objectives.
- Sketch out a timeline for each.
- Decide who’s going to help you accomplish your goals.
- Figure out how much it will cost (if anything) and where the money is going to come from (if necessary).
Take your plan back to your Head of School or your direct supervisor. Get their feedback, ask them to poke holes in your plan, and question your logic.
But most importantly, get their buy-in. Educate your supervisor about what you learned and how it will make a positive impact on your school. You will not only gain the support you need to accomplish your goals, but you will also demonstrate the value of spending all those hours away from the office.
Even if you did neglect a few hundred emails.
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About the Author
Penny Abrahams joined Independent School Management in 2010 as a member of the Advancement Academy’s founding faculty. She has consulted more than 100 schools in her time at ISM.
Penny began her career in schools at Ravenscroft School in in North Carolina, where she first served as Annual Fund Director. Later, as Director of Communications, she built the school’s communications program from the ground up. Penny was also Director of Admissions & Marketing at Academy at the Lakes in Florida, where she helped the school reach record application and enrollment numbers.
