Why is remaining focused and engaged during those activities so important? Your professional development is, first and foremost, an investment in you and contributes to your career success. It is an investment of your time and, more often than not, a financial investment as well.
As school business officials, we frequently evaluate the return on investment of various district programs and initiatives. Still, we often forget to assess and capitalize on the ROI of our own professional development. We all know that professional development yields personal growth and improvement; you are your greatest asset. As you grow professionally and personally, your school district, staff, colleagues, and school community also benefit. For these reasons, engaging and being fully present during professional development activities is imperative.
Though multitasking is at the core of the school business official’s role, realistically, no one is as good at multitasking as they think they are.
Though multitasking is at the core of the school business official’s role, realistically, no one is as good at multitasking as they think they are. Though multitasking is at the core of the school business official’s role, realistically, no one is as good at multitasking as they think they are. As a matter of fact, multitasking can be detrimental to our performance. It is quite a conundrum! Here are some tips to help you remain focused and engaged during professional development activities:
- Select professional development opportunities that pique your interest. This suggestion may seem obvious, but if you are truly interested in a particular professional development session, you may find it easier to stay engaged. Of course, some sessions offer the information required for licensure; honestly, those can be far from exciting. If you have the flexibility to choose sessions that interest you and they happen to be required, take full advantage of that opportunity.
- Inform your staff and coworkers well in advance of professional development activities. In your sharing, emphasize the value of professional development. Sharing your enthusiasm and purpose is a great way to let others know just how seriously you consider professional development activities.
- Prepare in advance. Let’s face it: Our time is limited, so taking time to prepare for professional development may seem redundant, but it can be helpful. That preparation can include reviewing the objectives of the session and the projected takeaways. After the session, review those takeaways to evaluate whether you got what you were hoping to get from the session. Some sessions, especially those related to licensure, have pre- and postwork, so focusing on both will highlight personal goals.
- Turn off email notifications on all devices. Doing so is especially important if you use a laptop or tablet during your professional development session. It is tempting to “send a quick response” to an email. Then another email catches your eye, and another. Before you know it, you have missed key information and must ask another participant what you missed or try to fill in the blanks on your own.
- Place your cell phone in “do not disturb” mode. We all have emergency contacts who must always be able to reach us. Set those contacts as “allowed” and let all other calls and notifications sit until a break or the end of the session. Take advantage of the setting in your phone that allows calls and messages to come through from anyone if they occur in quick succession. If a true emergency arises and your staff members know you implement this practice, they will call or text a couple of times for the message to go through.
- Place your cell phone out of sight or face down. Even with a phone in “do not disturb” mode, openingan internet browser to do random searches can be tempting. The best choice for those who do not have the discipline to leave the phone alone is to put it out of sight.
- If participating virtually, put a “do not disturb” sign on your office door and close all other applications on your computer. Because my office door is often open, people come in to chat. Office visitors will keep you from staying focused. Similarly, open computer applications are a distraction that can be avoided by closing them.
- Have a notebook handy. No matter how focused and engaged you are, occasionally, a random thought will come to mind, and unless you do something then and there, the idea goes down the rabbit hole. Rather than act on that random thought, jot down a quick note and refocus your attention. The notebook will also be useful for recording ideas and thoughts about the session.
During my first year as assistant superintendent for business and financial services for Joliet Public Schools District 86, I had to leave a regional state affiliate meeting because I got a text saying that a portion of a ceiling had fallen in a classroom at one of our schools. At that moment, I had to mentally check out and physically leave the meeting and head to the site.
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we will be interrupted at best and forced to completely disengage at worst. When that happens, do what you can, and do not let guilt creep in.
Engaging as a Presenter
What if you are the one leading the professional development session? What can you do to keep your audience engaged and focused? As a frequent presenter, I know all too well the feeling that comes from looking out at your audience and realizing that several people appear to be distracted. They are having side conversations, scrolling through their phones, fidgeting, or looking around the room.
Are they distracted by you and your presentation material or their personal circumstances? If you are skilled at reading a room, you should be able to tell the difference and adjust your presentation if necessary.
The best way to connect with attendees is to engage them rather than simply talk to them. Ask questions and encourage personal stories from the audience to break up the monotony of your own voice.
If you sense that people aren’t connecting with what you are saying, stop and ask, “Is this material aligning with the objectives and outcomes you expected?” Be prepared to hear honest responses. If time permits, build in brief breaks that will allow people to scratch that technology itch. For instance, if people know they can check their cell phones in 15 minutes, they are likely to remain focused on your presentation.
The best way to connect with attendees is to engage with them rather than simply talk to them.
All About Improvement
Each of these tips has transformed how I view and act concerning professional development sessions—whether attending or presenting. Professional development should be all about enhancing or improving how we perform in our careers and in the communities we serve.