Some Tips to Get SPECS Attendance Approval for You and Your Team
Anyone who’s been to SPECS will tell you it’s a game-changer. But, with busy schedules and a smaller workforce than ever before, making the case to be out of the office to attend an industry event can be a challenge. We get it.
So here’s some advice for garnering approval to attend SPECS, and also bringing your team:
STEP 1 — BE PREPARED
SPECS Show will provide unique breakout sessions about how to deliver a safe and inviting store experience — both of which will be critical priorities as the industry rebounds. Our sessions will highlight solutions and insights that can help the industry move forward through challenging times both now and in the future. These sessions will help keep you informed and support your business goals. The new interactive virtual platform will make the event accessible from the comfort of your desk. The event will enable you to source valuable real time connections easily through the 1:1 virtual meetings.
STEP 2 — PICK THE RIGHT TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT
Once your calendar is prepared, schedule a brief meeting with your manager, as required, to state your case in person:
Explain the ROI on sending you to the event.
Tell your boss you’ll be able to discuss best practices from leading retailers and brands in a post-pandemic world.
Tell your boss that SPECS unique engaging online platform combines webinars, interactive virtual exhibit booths, and online 1:1 meetings between retailers and the SPECS community’s exhibitors.
Tell your boss that SPECS will include a full exhibit hall with booths where exhibitors can load videos, provide product and service collateral coinciding with our educational program.
Walk through the conference website together to review the agenda and speaker lineup.
STEP 3 — LEVERAGE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS
Impress your boss with your communication skills by crafting a powerful campaign to win their approval.
Objection: “You can’t be away from the office duties for three days.” Your response: “I won’t be totally away from the office; the virtual event offers a flexible schedule with strategic breaks between sessions that allow me to stay connected at the same time I’m gathering information and best practices.”
Your closing argument: “When I get back from the conference, I’ll schedule a debrief session with you and the team. I’ll present my notes and speaker handouts from all the sessions I attended. I’ll recommend new ideas and I’ll show you all the great resource material I picked up in the Exhibit Hall from vendors who can save us money and grow our profits. Allowing me to attend the conference means elevating our whole team.”