Letter from the Editor: The Conference is Over, Now What? Maximizing Your Post-SHRM Florida Conference Experience
Hopefully you or a coworker or friend were able to attend the HR Florida 2026 Conference and Expo presented by SHRM Florida. You attended a fantastic conference. Your head is buzzing with new ideas, your phone is filled with new contacts, and your bag is heavy with brochures and swag. But the real work begins now. A conference is only as valuable as the action you take afterward. Don’t let that post-conference energy fade away. Here’s a guide to turning your attendance into a tangible win for you and your organization.
1. Organize and Digest Immediately
Go through your notebook or digital notes and highlight key takeaways, actionable items, and names of people you want to follow up with. . Don’t just transcribe your notes; synthesize them. What were the recurring themes? What was the most surprising thing you learned? This process helps solidify the information in your mind.
2. Follow Up and Network
The business cards you collected are not trophies; they are potential connections. Make it a priority to follow up with the people you met. Send a personalized email or LinkedIn message. Instead of a generic “Nice to meet you,” reference a specific conversation you had or a session you both attended. This personal touch shows that you were genuinely engaged and helps them remember you. For your most valuable connections, consider setting up a brief call to discuss how you can help each other. Networking is a two-way street, so always be thinking about how you can add value to the other person.
3. Share Your Knowledge
You weren’t at the conference just for yourself; you were there to bring back insights to your team and organization. Schedule a meeting with your manager or a team debrief to share what you learned. Create a concise presentation or a “Top 5 Takeaways” document. Focus on information that is relevant and actionable for your company. Did you learn about a new recruiting tool that could save your team time? Or a strategy to improve employee engagement? Presenting these ideas not only shows your initiative but also helps to justify the investment in sending you to the conference.
4. Create an Action Plan
This is the most crucial step. Don’t let your great ideas languish on a to-do list. Take the highlighted items from your notes and turn them into a concrete action plan. Which idea can you implement immediately? Which will require more research or a budget? Create a simple plan with clear steps, owners, and deadlines. For example:
- Goal: Improve our new hire onboarding process.
- Action Step 1: Research the three software solutions mentioned in the “Onboarding 2.0” session.
- Action Step 2: Schedule a meeting with the IT department to discuss integration feasibility.
- Action Step 3: Present a proposal to leadership by the end of the month.
By breaking down large ideas into small, manageable tasks, you make them much more likely to happen.
5. Continue the Learning
The conference may be over, but your learning journey shouldn’t stop. Connect with the speakers and presenters you enjoyed on social media. Many share their slides, articles, and other resources online. Join any community groups or forums mentioned at the conference. Stay subscribed to the conference’s newsletter or blog for updates on next year’s event or related content. The best conferences are not just a one-time event; they are a gateway to a broader community of professionals committed to continuous learning. By following these steps, you will transform your conference attendance from a passive experience into an active catalyst for professional and organizational growth.
Wishing you all the best,
Kathleen Hedrick
Associate Editor; Newswire