#ATD2024 – Lead With Learning: The Power of a Professional Growth Series in Your Chapter

The first session I attended during the 2024 ATD Leader’s Conference focused on professional growth. Lei Comerford from the Nashville chapter led the session. Lei shared her experiences and insights on how chapters can develop and implement programs to help members grow professionally.

Lei began her session by highlighting the VUCA concept: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This term originated from the United States Army War College about 20-30 years ago and helps us understand the challenges we face in today’s rapidly changing world.

Lee connected the idea of VUCA to the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought a lot of uncertainty, job losses, and business closures. In response, many organizations, including her chapter, had to adapt quickly by moving training and programming online. This shift helped them continue their operations and revealed that online training could sometimes offer an even better experience.

Inspired by Nashville’s success, I thought about how to apply similar strategies to enhance our Central Mass chapter. From creating special interest groups to improving our branding and communication methods, we have many opportunities to better support our instructional designers, coaches, and other members. This session was full of ideas for taking our chapter’s professional growth initiatives to the next level.

Critical Areas for Chapter Programs

Lei Comerford highlighted four critical areas for developing successful professional growth series programs: Decide, Create, Maintain, and Evaluate. Chapters can create beneficial professional growth initiatives by focusing on these areas.

Decide

The first step involves writing down clear goals and objectives for the program. Clear goals help to define the purpose and direction of the initiative. Nashville’s chapter started by identifying the needs of its members and setting specific outcomes they wanted to achieve. They expanded upon their regular coffee chat into more deliberate programming. Clear documentation ensures everyone involved understands the program’s goals and can work towards them together.

Create

The creation phase is where the program comes to life. This phase involves planning and organizing the content, recruiting speakers or facilitators, and covering all logistical details.
It’s crucial to decide on the structure and format of the program. Program format and structure include determining the frequency of events, the types of activities to include, and the roles of various participants. Nashville decided to run its professional growth series quarterly, incorporating both long and short sessions with breakout discussions. This flexible structure allowed them to cater to different learning styles and schedules.

Branding also plays a significant role here. Nashville branded its series distinctly, making it easily recognizable and setting it apart from other programs. This strong branding helped to build a sense of identity and community around the series.

Maintain

Maintaining the program over time is essential for its success. Program maintenance involves setting up structures and processes to ensure consistency and sustainability. Tools like Asana help to manage workflows and keep everyone on track. Asana is a tool that the Central Mass chapter uses.

Lei also emphasized the importance of readily available templates and resources to streamline the creation and maintenance processes.

Evaluate

Finally, evaluating the program is crucial to ensure it remains relevant and practical. Evaluation involves gathering participant feedback, analyzing the data, and making necessary adjustments. Nashville emphasized the importance of regular evaluation to keep their program aligned with members’ needs and expectations. They also considered accommodating members who couldn’t attend live sessions by providing recorded videos or additional resources online.

Enhancing Central Mass

Inspired by the insights shared by Lee Comerford from the Nashville chapter, I started thinking about how we can take our Central Mass chapter to the next level. One program in particular is our Central Mash networking session. Our current gatherings are great for building community, sharing ideas, and supporting each other, but there is potential to make them even more impactful.

Supporting Instructional Designers and Coaches

Providing more targeted support for our instructional designers and coaches is one way to enhance Central Mash. One method I had in mind could involve branching out to special interest groups or sessions focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities within these roles. We can offer more relevant resources and foster deeper engagement among our by addressing specific needs members by addressing specific needs.

Special Interest Groups

Nashville’s “Small and Mighty” special interest group is a fantastic example of how targeted initiatives can benefit members. We could create similar groups tailored to different professional interests or areas of expertise. These groups could meet regularly to discuss challenges, share solutions, and collaborate on projects. Such focused interactions can lead to stronger connections and more meaningful professional development.

Improved Branding and Communication

Effective branding is another area where we are doing great but can improve. By creating a distinct and recognizable brand for our programs, we can increase visibility and build a stronger identity for Central Mass. Branding involves consistently using logos, themes, and messaging across all our communications and promotional materials. One specific observation from the session was the inclusion of sponsor logos on the graphic. A strong brand helps to create a sense of belonging and makes it easier for members to identify and engage with our offerings. I also learned about improved strategies for “post parties.” Post parties are likes, shares, comments, and replies to social media posts.

Utilizing Technology for Better Engagement

Leveraging technology can also enhance our chapter’s activities. For example, using tools like Asana for workflow management can streamline planning and execution. Additionally, implementing text message reminders for events can help increase attendance and ensure that those who sign up also participate. Wild Apricot, which supports opt-in text messaging, could be helpful for this purpose.

Gathering and Utilizing Feedback

Collecting and acting on feedback is crucial for continuous improvement. We must ensure we capture participants’ thoughts and experiences after each session. This feedback is valuable for refining our programs and showing our presenters their efforts are appreciated and impactful. Developing a structured process for gathering and analyzing feedback can lead to more responsive and effective programming.

Expanding Access and Flexibility

Finally, we should consider making our programs more accessible to members who can’t attend live sessions. Recording and making sessions available on our website is a good start, but we could go further. A structured program, perhaps through a learning management system, could provide more flexible access to our resources. An LMS would allow members to engage with the content conveniently, ensuring broader participation and benefit.

Conclusion

By implementing some of these ideas, we can enhance the Central Mass chapter and make it an even more valuable resource for our members. With targeted support, improved branding, effective use of technology, structured feedback processes, and expanded access, we can better serve our community and foster professional growth in more impactful ways.