Should I stay or Should I go?
Opportunities for professional growth are abundant these days; how many invitations are you seeing in your in-box daily: webinars, seminars, Zoom meetings, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, an endless array. How to be a good leader in the age of a pandemic? How to build a more diverse and inclusive team? How to apply Marie Kondo to schools? It’s endless. Perhaps the most important question is: How do you decide whether or not 45 minutes on a video presentation is worth your while?
SmarterWisdom has certainly wasted some time tuning in to a few failures. One of us finds something that looks good, and as part of our partnership and commitment to constant learning, we both tune in. Ten minutes in, one of us texts the other: What do you think? Sometimes we hang in there and sometimes we don’t, determining that our time will be better spent elsewhere. We usually agree on the decision to jump ship. So, what kinds of calibration and measurements are we using to determine that we are no longer in?
In one of our regular check-ins, we discussed this phenomenon and what tools we might be using to decide. We first agreed that this cornucopia of offerings—and apparently the time to try to explore—was a new paradigm and, as such, we needed a new mental model to vet our investment of precious time.
Consider the old model: we see an interesting conference in Indianapolis; we research travel and workshop costs, check our budget and see if we can clear three days out of our schedule. We find the cheapest (non-refundable) flight and hotel (only refund of one night) and book it. We get there. The conference is medium at best. We attend the keynote and skip day two to see a friend in the city; yes, we feel a tad guilty but we know our down-time can be as valuable as any workshop.
And now, what’s new: endless choices, many of them free or minimum cost, no travel expenses or wasted travel time—and we can exercise our rights and walk away guiltfree. It’s a bit like the buffets in Las Vegas hotels back a decade or so ago—it’s all there; do we dine healthily or just load up on calories? So how do we do make this professional development decision thoughtfully and in the interests of our organization?
SW advises you to consider the following for starters:
Is the organization offering the seminar reputable? Known for this particular kind of program? DDI, CCL, HBS are all big names nationally for those of us interested in leadership growth and development, for example.
After some research, do you find the speakers are knowledgeable in the area they are presenting? For example, one of us recently listened into a seminar from Tsedal Neeley at HBS, initially the name was not known to her but after a bit of research she saw that this session on leading teams meeting by video-conference was being delivered by an expert in the field (and now we are huge fans!).
Is the session scheduled at a good time for you? Perhaps not worth bumping a scheduled team meeting for a webinar unless it seems like a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Once you have tuned in, how good is the quality of the video, the slides, the other visuals? Is the moderator on the ball? Is the content up-to-date and delivered succinctly?
Should you stay?
Yes, if it is interesting and potentially valuable to your professional growth.
Yes, if it is challenging you to think differently about a topic you thought you knew all about.
Yes, if you are drawn in by the topic and it might be useful if not now, then in the future.
Yes, if the speakers seem knowledgeable, and are using the medium of video well—not just reading from notes and/or mumbling.
Or should you go?
Yes, if you find your mind wandering and cannot concentrate.
Yes, if one or more of the speakers is not “speaking” to you
Yes, if this is stuff you know—and could perhaps even deliver better yourself
Yes, if the specific content is more advanced than you are in a specific technical field—it is no use listening to fluent Spanish speakers when your vocabulary acquisition is only 25 words.
The key to all of this, then, is to be sure you have an action plan. Don’t just randomly sign up for three webinars a week, be deliberate in your choices; use your time wisely. And if you find someone, or some organization that does it well, see what else they are offering. If you are missing networking with new people during the pandemic, for example, start to network with presenters and participants. Follow them on social media; reach out to ask them questions and perhaps even share your own thoughts and writing with them. Capitalize on this new model to manage your career path. Above all create a decision-making protocol for how you spend your time. And in the inimitable words of The Clash:
This indecision's bugging me (esta indecisión me molesta)
If you don't want me, set me free (si no me quieres, librarme)---
from Should I Stay or Should I Go?