Conference season is in full swing — from the annual meetings of ASSH, OTA, AAHKS, and SRS to regional summits and more (so many acronyms!)
Many of us return from these meetings with full notebooks, buzzing energy, and a sense of renewed purpose. But here’s the challenge: how do we keep that momentum alive once we’re back in our daily environments?
It’s all too easy to slide back into routines and familiar obstacles. The real leadership test is not just what we absorb at conferences, but how we translate those insights into action for our teams and organizations. And sometimes, it’s the unpredictable, valuable collaborations that spark from a single conversation or session that end up being the most impactful.
5 Practical Ways to Sustain the Energy
Here are some tips to help you bring the best of conference season back to your teams and organizations:
✨ Share Your Notes: Create a shared folder (Microsot Teams, Google Drive, etc.) with handouts, slides, and references. Invite colleagues to add comments about how lessons could apply locally.
✨ Host a Debrief: Even if your colleagues attended with you, perspectives differ. A 30–60 minute debrief lets everyone share their top pearls and align on next steps.
✨ Follow Up with Speakers: Reach out to presenters who resonated with you. A short note of thanks — or even exploring collaboration — can extend the value of a single session into meaningful partnerships.
✨ Recognize Excellence: If a speaker truly impacted your thinking, let their leadership and colleagues know. Tag them on social media. Make their moment count. Citing specific quotes or insights amplifies their contributions and elevates their visibility. (i.e. Pay it forward!)
✨ Commit to Something New: Did you step out of your comfort zone at this meeting? If not, commit to doing so next time — attend a session outside your scope, strike up a new connection, or sit in on a workshop you might not normally choose. Growth comes from exploring the edges.
Build on Your Momentum
Conferences should not just fill our notebooks — they should fuel our future. The leaders who thrive are the ones who channel those insights and connections into ongoing collaboration.
That’s exactly what our online platform – ODLC Nation – was built for: a dedicated space where leaders like you can continue the conversations, test ideas, and partner across institutions and industries.
👉 [CLICK HERE] and upgrade your membership today to join ODLC Nation. Connect with peers who are navigating the same leadership challenges and opportunities you are. Together, we can turn conference inspiration into sustained transformation.
Onward and Upward,
Dr. Erica Taylor
