Getting the approval to attend important conferences like MAILCOM and National Postal Forum has always been challenging — even more so under the current economic conditions. But actively participating in conferences is a key to success for you as a professional in the mail industry, and is important to the success of your organization.
We and our organizations have both benefited from our involvement with conferences and would like to see you join us at National Postal Forum April 1-4, 2012 and MAILCOM April 15-18, 2012. Here are ideas to help you obtain approval to attend.
Keys to Get Approval to Attend Conferences
Approval often comes down to the ROI to your organization — are the benefits worth the costs? Before discussing benefits, let's start with the costs. There are ways to lower the cost to attend. First, if you are a Mail Systems Management Association (MSMA) member you qualify for a MSMA discount for the MailCom conference. Both MAILCOM and National Postal Forum offer a discount for early registration.
Second, you can shop around for the least expensive transportation method. Attendees will often double up on rooms to cut that cost. We know of a number of attendees that will offer to pay some or all of the travel costs out of their pockets. People that do that look at it as an investment in their careers — and it shows your management chain how committed you are to developing yourself and adding value to your organization.
The biggest key to getting approval is to explain the return (benefits) to you and your organization. Here are some benefits that you can tailor to your own situation:
1) Learning ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. You will learn updated information on how to minimize postage and shipping costs, and learn ideas to improve the efficiency of your operations. We have seen our organizations and others save thousands and even millions of dollars via learning and implementing work share postal discounts, shape based pricing, targeted mailing, cleaner addressing and reduction of undeliverable mail, intelligent/selective inserting, full-service intelligent mail discounts, applying QR 2D bar codes, implementing six sigma and lean principles — the list goes on and on.
2) Learning Best Practices and ideas for Process Improvements. You will learn from the industry's top experts, peers and vendors in the exhibit hall the Best Practices of the country's leading high performance organizations. You will also hear ideas about process improvements that can drive improved efficiency, effectiveness and quality. You will learn how to improve quality and have more sustainable operations and eliminate waste. Included can be practical tips related to work flow, job design, process analysis and ergonomics.
3) Learn about the latest technology and automation and other tools. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum are great sources to hear about the latest relevant technology from the speakers, peers and vendors. We have seen for ourselves and others significant costs savings and improved operations from wise investments in equipment and software. Here is the chance to see what might be of value to your organization. You can visit the exhibit hall and expand your list of vendor and supplier contacts for current and future reference.
4) Build a strong network and support group. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum provide an opportunity to meet the industry's top leaders and experts first hand. One of the great features of this conference is how approachable the speakers are. Also, there are many opportunities to network with peers from around the country — and then to build your own professional support group.
5) Become inspired to succeed. The keynote and seminar speakers will inspire you to push even harder to help your organization to be more successful. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum are noted for their wide selection of seminars including those aimed at our personal and leadership development.
6) Add more value to your key stakeholders. The investors of your organization will benefit from the cost savings and efficiencies that you adopt. In addition, you can learn ways to add more value to your customers and improve customer satisfaction and favorability.
MAILCOM and National Postal Forum also offer a number of sessions geared to leadership and management best practices, and proven ways to provide more positive work environments for your employees that will drive improved morale, motivation and performance.
7) Improve your credibility within the industry and your organization. You will learn important information that will benefit you personally — and your organization. As you go home and apply what you know you will gain greater respect and recognition. In addition, you can earn one or two professional certificates while at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum.
And, at MailCom you can take advantage of the opportunity to earn the professional certifications sponsored by MSMA, including the MDC: Mailpiece Design Consultant; CMDSM: Certified Mail Distribution System Manager or CMDSS: Certified Mail Distribution Systems Suppliers. Note: for more information about these programs visit msmanational.org.
8) Become a teacher, inspire others and build a stronger team. With all the learning, networking and inspiration you receive, you will be equipped to go back home and inspire and teach others. This will be rewarding to you — and your team!
One final tip: if you do attend MAILCOM and National Postal Forum, make sure you prepare a thorough, written report and share with your boss and team. Also do a verbal presentation of the key highlights from your report and let your excitement show through at what you gained at the conference. Jim has a great personal example of a report that he would gladly e-mail you upon request.
Good luck to you as you pursue getting approval to join us at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum in 2012!
Wes Friesen and James P. Mullan are members of the MSMA national board and have both earned multiple professional certifications including the CMDSM. Wes and Jim were also the recipients of the prestigious 2010 Franklin Award in recognition of their achievements and contribution to the mailing industry. Both speak regularly at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum on a variety of leadership, management and operational topics. Wes can be contacted at wes.friesen@pgn.com and Jim at jmullan@chubb.com. For information about MAILCOM, visit www.mailcom-conference.com and for information about National Postal Forum visit www.NPF.org.
We and our organizations have both benefited from our involvement with conferences and would like to see you join us at National Postal Forum April 1-4, 2012 and MAILCOM April 15-18, 2012. Here are ideas to help you obtain approval to attend.
Keys to Get Approval to Attend Conferences
Approval often comes down to the ROI to your organization — are the benefits worth the costs? Before discussing benefits, let's start with the costs. There are ways to lower the cost to attend. First, if you are a Mail Systems Management Association (MSMA) member you qualify for a MSMA discount for the MailCom conference. Both MAILCOM and National Postal Forum offer a discount for early registration.
Second, you can shop around for the least expensive transportation method. Attendees will often double up on rooms to cut that cost. We know of a number of attendees that will offer to pay some or all of the travel costs out of their pockets. People that do that look at it as an investment in their careers — and it shows your management chain how committed you are to developing yourself and adding value to your organization.
The biggest key to getting approval is to explain the return (benefits) to you and your organization. Here are some benefits that you can tailor to your own situation:
1) Learning ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. You will learn updated information on how to minimize postage and shipping costs, and learn ideas to improve the efficiency of your operations. We have seen our organizations and others save thousands and even millions of dollars via learning and implementing work share postal discounts, shape based pricing, targeted mailing, cleaner addressing and reduction of undeliverable mail, intelligent/selective inserting, full-service intelligent mail discounts, applying QR 2D bar codes, implementing six sigma and lean principles — the list goes on and on.
2) Learning Best Practices and ideas for Process Improvements. You will learn from the industry's top experts, peers and vendors in the exhibit hall the Best Practices of the country's leading high performance organizations. You will also hear ideas about process improvements that can drive improved efficiency, effectiveness and quality. You will learn how to improve quality and have more sustainable operations and eliminate waste. Included can be practical tips related to work flow, job design, process analysis and ergonomics.
3) Learn about the latest technology and automation and other tools. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum are great sources to hear about the latest relevant technology from the speakers, peers and vendors. We have seen for ourselves and others significant costs savings and improved operations from wise investments in equipment and software. Here is the chance to see what might be of value to your organization. You can visit the exhibit hall and expand your list of vendor and supplier contacts for current and future reference.
4) Build a strong network and support group. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum provide an opportunity to meet the industry's top leaders and experts first hand. One of the great features of this conference is how approachable the speakers are. Also, there are many opportunities to network with peers from around the country — and then to build your own professional support group.
5) Become inspired to succeed. The keynote and seminar speakers will inspire you to push even harder to help your organization to be more successful. MAILCOM and National Postal Forum are noted for their wide selection of seminars including those aimed at our personal and leadership development.
6) Add more value to your key stakeholders. The investors of your organization will benefit from the cost savings and efficiencies that you adopt. In addition, you can learn ways to add more value to your customers and improve customer satisfaction and favorability.
MAILCOM and National Postal Forum also offer a number of sessions geared to leadership and management best practices, and proven ways to provide more positive work environments for your employees that will drive improved morale, motivation and performance.
7) Improve your credibility within the industry and your organization. You will learn important information that will benefit you personally — and your organization. As you go home and apply what you know you will gain greater respect and recognition. In addition, you can earn one or two professional certificates while at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum.
And, at MailCom you can take advantage of the opportunity to earn the professional certifications sponsored by MSMA, including the MDC: Mailpiece Design Consultant; CMDSM: Certified Mail Distribution System Manager or CMDSS: Certified Mail Distribution Systems Suppliers. Note: for more information about these programs visit msmanational.org.
8) Become a teacher, inspire others and build a stronger team. With all the learning, networking and inspiration you receive, you will be equipped to go back home and inspire and teach others. This will be rewarding to you — and your team!
One final tip: if you do attend MAILCOM and National Postal Forum, make sure you prepare a thorough, written report and share with your boss and team. Also do a verbal presentation of the key highlights from your report and let your excitement show through at what you gained at the conference. Jim has a great personal example of a report that he would gladly e-mail you upon request.
Good luck to you as you pursue getting approval to join us at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum in 2012!
Wes Friesen and James P. Mullan are members of the MSMA national board and have both earned multiple professional certifications including the CMDSM. Wes and Jim were also the recipients of the prestigious 2010 Franklin Award in recognition of their achievements and contribution to the mailing industry. Both speak regularly at MAILCOM and National Postal Forum on a variety of leadership, management and operational topics. Wes can be contacted at wes.friesen@pgn.com and Jim at jmullan@chubb.com. For information about MAILCOM, visit www.mailcom-conference.com and for information about National Postal Forum visit www.NPF.org.
