What I won’t tell you after I crashed the GAC

Dear supervisor, you encouraged me to sign up to crash the Governmental Affairs Conference.

I was so excited that you thought of me.

I was so proud to represent our state and credit union as I collaborated with other crashers from all over.

We networked.

We heard from credit union partners.

We dove into the history of the credit union why.

We listened to speakers ranging from platforms that help our members financially succeed, to how someone found the road to success within the CU movement.

Each day was filled with a mindful agenda that not only kept us on our toes but expanded our horizons.

I was so excited to come back and share with you all the ideas that I had during the conference.

All my little notes of inspiration that I wanted to show you.

I made a list of speakers that I thought we could use for our team.

I made a list of topics that we could discuss for our CU’s future.

But….

When I came back, you didn’t have time to listen to any of it.

You asked me to create a PowerPoint and an email on why it was relevant.

My excitement turned to disappointment.

I came back with a cup that was overflowing with the heart of our industry, and it was met with lackluster interest.

Now, I am questioning where I am and if this is the place for me.

My passion is high, and my drive is even more, and yet I feel like you don’t have the interest to hear about my experience.

I thought that you wanted me to go so that I could be excited about the movement that I am a part of.

I did what you wanted.

I went and I dove right in headfirst.

I soaked up all of the industry knowledge that I could.

Just when I didn’t think I could muster up one more thing, I went and Thunderpunched!

I sat on the plane ride back thinking about all of the ways that what I learned could benefit our credit union.

I just wanted you to meet me with the same excitement to hear it.

When I realized that you did not have the time nor the interest, my flame went to a flicker and that flicker eventually began to fizzle.

I can’t help but be confused.

*******

Dear leaders, if you are sending your team members to big events such as the GAC you need to know that they will come back energized, passion magnified, and ready to change the CU world.

Embrace that.

THAT is what the experience is about.

That reboot, refresh, realignment.

When all of that is met with a ho-hum mentality, you are encouraging your employees to feel out of place.

Inevitably they will start to question if where they are at is where they want to be.

Sending staff to events is not just a checkmark that you can put on your excel spreadsheet and then consider it done.

Follow up with them.

Give them time with you.

ASK them about their experience.

ASK them if they would like to share at the next staff meeting so that others may get excited about future opportunities.

You can toss money at conferences and courses all day long, but none of that will ever matter unless you take responsibility for the follow-up afterwards.

Every conference I try and chat with the YP’s/ Crashers and every follow-up that I have with them is met with similar disappointment in their organization simply not being interested.

Where’s the ROI?

Right in front of you wanting to share all of the excitement they gathered at the event.

Harness that after conference passion and keep the flame alive.