Kathie Lingle's Work-Life Blog

Engagement and Nostalgia in Atlanta

March 10, 2008 — For the first time, I find myself examining the popular assumption that there are too many work-life conferences.  Let me explain.

The 23rd Conference Board/Families and Work Institute Work Life Conference  took place in Atlanta last week.  The theme was How We Work and Live Today:  The Impact on Employee Engagement and Talent Management.  Since I am loosely involved in planning for this annual event by virtue of being a member of the Conference Board’s Work-Life Leadership Council, I could be accused of having a soft spot in my heart for this meeting.  But the origins of my bias go far deeper, as revealed by some reminiscing I did with Diane Burrus (WFD Consulting) on our way to the airport about a general session we once did together more than a dozen years ago at this same conference.  Our contribution involved a demonstration of the first and only work-life board game, long since in mothballs (if that is where noteworthy games cluster in their afterlife.)  The conference was so big in those days that it straddled the coasts, so we repeated this session in New York and San Francisco.  Both of us remember the Starlight Room at the Waldorf with special fondness.

A few things haven’t changed (like Diane spending all of her adult working life at WFD  and the Conference Board’s apparent indifference to the “green” approach to group gatherings), while many other elements of this meeting have altered significantly.  Most dramatically, after 4-5 years of dwindling in size to a painfully small number of table rounds, this year’s conference was much better attended.  This was in large part accomplished by a well-publicized and energetic effort to provide large discounts in order to attract an audience otherwise repelled by the Conference Board’s steep pricing, so it was no secret that anyone who was the least bit connected to anyone else in the field either attended for free or at a significantly lowered rate.  Add to the mix a new location, prying this conference from the iron grip of New York City.  The overall strategy was remarkably successful, given that this was the same week when the applications were due for Working Mother Media’s  list of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. . 

This confluence of events had the effect of attracting a dynamic influx of entirely new and different people, since many of the usual suspects were back at the ranch completing their employer of choice homework.  This added novelty and excitement because I reconnected with people I haven’t seen in years, some from entirely different walks of life who are newly involved in one or more aspects of the work-life portfolio. I also made a number of new contacts.  There was a dash of global spice, with at least half a dozen people from Singapore, Barbara Holmes as the sole representative from Australia, Helen Bloom from Belgium, and Nora Spinks from Canada (who, among many other virtues, is a member of our WorldatWork  faculty, teaching the new work-life certification courses.)

I’ve come away from Atlanta with a new thought. It would appear that there is yet some pent up demand for high caliber, relevant meetings of professionals who are interested in or actively advancing work-life effectiveness.  As with everything else in marketing, the elements of pricing, location, content and the draw of “star power” determine the value proposition.  

See you all in Philadelphia in May!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of WorldatWork and its affiliate, Alliance for Work-Life Progress (AWLP).