Time and money well spent on a quality learning experience.
Keeping up with industry trends, government mandates and advancing technologies is critical to the performance of your facility. Your facility professional or workplace team could spend valuable time seeking out best practices and cost-effective products on their own. They could deplete the company's professional development budget on multiple conferences throughout the year. OR they could acquire everything they need to keep your facility competitive at one all-inclusive event.
IFMA's World Workplace is a comprehensive learning and networking experience valued by workplace professionals for its well-rounded educational program, world-class speakers and first-class exposition.
Topic experts, educators, researchers and practitioners are carefully selected and invited to share case studies, best practices and proven methodologies. And we work year-round to find the best product and service solutions for the workplace—from energy efficiency and green building to emergency preparedness, high-tech security systems, furniture, flooring and software developments.
Three days at IFMA's World Workplace equates to about 1.2% of your facility professional's work year.
1.2% is nothing compared to the amount of wasted time, redundant efforts and unnecessary frustration that stem from a lack of relevant, reliable information. The tips, techniques, advice and strategies attendees gain at the world's premier facility-focused event can be put into practice the day they get back to the office!
World Workplace attendees have reported seeing:
- a measurable boost in operational efficiencies;
- the introduction of better products and practices in their workplaces; and
- a noticeable improvement in the management of projects and teams.
What your facility professional or team learns can be applied immediately for direct results.
- Strengthen your competitive advantage. The information and ideas that attendees bring back to the office can directly benefit the company's triple bottom line.
- Heighten productivity, improve operations. Attendees agree that their post-event performance is markedly superior, and their teams get ready for constructive change upon their return.
- Rethink your workplace practices and programs. Attendees talk about what they're doing in their organizations. They learn first-hand what worked and what didn't. They bring suggestions and solutions back to the office for discussion or immediate implementation.
- Save money. A skilled and informed professional results in more efficiently run facilities, better managed staff, and the introduction of better products and services to the workplace.
After you submit your proposal letter to your employer/supervisor, be prepared to discuss specifics in a face-to-face meeting. Keep in mind—you understand the benefits of attending a conference dedicated to your profession, but your employer may not. Make the connection between what your employer expects from you and how the conference can heighten your knowledge and performance in those areas. Use these tips to further explain the benefits of attending:
Justify the Expense
- Focus on what you will specifically bring back to your company. Prepare a sample agenda of course titles that apply to your responsibilities or programs you direct; choose sessions that address issues you're handling right now in your workplace. Show your employer/supervisor a list of the exhibiting companies, highlighting products and services you need or are curious about.
- Point out that a single investment in your registration could benefit your team or the entire staff. Offer to deliver a presentation/Q&A to your colleagues to share what you learned. Distribute speaker handouts and conference proceedings.
- If you are working toward your Certified Facility Manager® (CFM®) credential, remind your employer/supervisor that you can earn 20 maintenance points as a World Workplace attendee. Maintaining your professional certification is not only beneficial to your company; but also protects that investment, especially if your company provided support during your CFM process.
- Whether you're making a case for sending a team or you're traveling with fellow IFMA chapter or council members, offer to share a room, a car or taxi fare on site.
- If you are an IFMA member, be sure to point out that you receive a $200 savings off the nonmember price, illustrating the benefit of your association membership.
Detail the ROI
Real-World Education / Session Content: List sessions relevant to your job and the type of facility or business sector you support. Identify specific tools, current technologies, sustainable programs, new processes and case studies to be presented at the conference. Find comparable businesses or organizations represented by the speakers. Highlight facility issues that address your current challenges.
Powerful Networking / Peer Contacts: One of the most valuable aspects of the conference is professional networking. It's important to get out of your own environment once in a while and hear what others are doing in their facilities—take away ideas you hadn't thought about; gain useful advice; talk shop; and have a list of peers you can call on in the future to answer questions or provide direction.
First-Class Solutions / Vendor Contacts: The World Workplace expo is one of the industry's most diverse tradeshows, addressing just about all of your facility needs. Point out that 10 dedicated expo hours gives you ample time to view and discuss solutions with company representatives. Highlight the expo Solutions Arenas, offering free 30- and 60-minute product demonstrations and informational sessions to help you understand how various tools work. Mention that past expo attendees say they've discovered products previously unknown to them, as well as new and better vendors.