August 2024 Leader Letter
Online Convention? Start Here for Success
Use some leadership skills to get the most out of your event.
Attending the online experience of a hybrid event, such as the 2024 International Convention, typically means you've forfeited an enticing location (Southern California, the birthplace of Toastmasters!) for a very comfortable one: home sweet home. As a disciplined leader, you likely possess the mental skills needed to transport yourself (and possibly your teammates and/or club members) to an amazing convention experience, just as you would in person. Here are six ways to increase your online focus—and maximize the benefits to you as a leader:
1. Study the tool, practice the platform.
Leaders get to know their environment before presenting or speaking. The same holds true when learning or listening. Your online conference will be supported by a tool or platform you probably have not used before. Take some time the week, day, or (at least) hour before the conference to check out the event lobby/home page and become familiar with the features and tabs. Find out how you will access sessions and events. Watch any available videos and read any tutorials on getting the most out of the conference. Share this knowledge with colleagues or set up a watch party and invite them to join you!
2. Set schedule goals.
Good leaders are good time managers. Plan out your time, just as you would if you were in person at the event. Decide which sessions/meetings/networking opportunities you want to attend, check out if they are live and/or available On Demand, and map out your day(s) at the conference. (In the case of the 2024 International Convention, all events will be livestreamed and not available On Demand until the end of August.) While in attendance, put your phone on silent mode, or better yet, shut it off. Mark yourself out on your work calendar and do not check email. This is your time to learn, have fun, and fully engage in the convention experience.
3. Watch full screen; be in the moment.
Leaders learn the benefits of putting their full attention on one task at a time. To truly focus and feel like you are “at” the conference, watch all events full-screen—on the largest screen you have available—and don't click away to watch anything else. You can take notes on a separate device—a laptop, tablet, or even on a pad of paper.
4. Connect everywhere you can.
Leaders hold connections sacred. Take advantage of any connecting/networking events that the online conference makes available. Plan to attend breakout sessions and any online social gatherings. Engage in chat features. Enter contests. Great networking is still possible, even at a distance. Consider watching with colleagues/team members or connect with them live after sessions to discuss and trade notes. This will raise the experience level for everyone.
5. Factor in breaks.
Stress management is a must for any good leader. If you plan on attending a full-day or multiple-day conference, you must allow yourself breaks to avoid fatigue and burnout. Pre-plan meals ahead of time and have them ready to go. Include coffee/snack breaks. Include healthy items like fruit, nuts, water, etc. to keep your energy levels high. Don't forget to stretch and take a short walk, when needed. Try to mimic the activity of an in-person convention to give yourself an exceptional virtual experience.
6. Look for leadership-specific education.
Great leaders continually hone their leadership skills. Many conferences feature leadership-specific sessions and/or well-known leaders. At the 2024 International Convention, take note of Leadership Expert Shawn Ellis and his keynote presentation, Mastering Real-World Resilience and Adaptability, as well as the 2024 Golden Gavel recipient, Entrepreneur Lisa Sun, and her session, Cultivating Courage: Reframe Results to Compel Action, and Negotiation/Communication Trainer Alice Shikina’s session, Negotiating Conflicts Confidently.
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