Strategic planning events provide effective networking, public relations and educational opportunities for your business. Events for strategic planning not only help you stay abreast of the latest strategic planning trends, but also allow you to exchange ideas with colleagues. Plus, events for strategic planning professionals give your company significant name recognition among current and future business prospects, partners or clients.

There are a wide range of events for strategic planners, with topics ranging from case building and action plans to execution and leadership. To get the most value from a strategic planning conference, evaluate the following:

1. Is the strategic planning event designed for professionals in your specialized field?

2. What special exhibits, workshops or keynote speakers do the conferences for strategic planning professionals offer to expand your knowledge base or increase your business profitability?

3. How much should your business pay for conferences for strategic planners?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select strategic planning events geared towards professionals in your field

Choose an event for strategic planning professionals that focuses on your specific industry discipline. If your focus is on strategic planning for non-profit organizations, select specialized non-profit strategic planning conferences rather than general corporate strategic planning events. Find out if the event for strategic planners is designed for owners, executives, management or consultants, and select events most appropriate to your occupation.

I recommend: The Simplified Strategic Planning for Small to Mid-Sized Companies seminar is designed specifically for executives of small, independent companies and mid-sized subsidiaries of larger companies. Building Soft-Skills for IT Professionals presented by Leadership Strategies is a training and strategic planning series for IT professionals. McHugh & Company provides strategic planning seminars for senior managers in mid-sized companies.

Attend strategic planning conferences with informative workshops and reputable speakers

Select events for strategic planners that offer a selection of classes, exhibits and workshops relevant to your career. For the most beneficial learning experience, look for classes and seminars focused on specific topics rather than broad generalizations. Choose strategic planning events with successful, reputable and credible speakers who are known for their strategic planning expertise.

I recommend: The Secrets of Successful Strategy Execution presented by the Association for Strategic Planning focuses on four building blocks executives can use in implementing strategic plans. The Engaging in Collaborative Strategic Planning conference offers educational sessions on developing strategic plans in campus environments, like "Crafting a Customized Action Plan" and "Building a Case for Collaborative Strategic Planning on Your Campus." The American Management Association offers several strategic planning seminars with focused topics, like fundamentals of strategic planning, execution and leadership.

Choose events for strategic planning professionals in your price range

Register for strategic planning conferences that fit within your company's budget. In addition to the conference fees, factor in costs for travel, lodging and meals. To save money, consider a smaller local or regional strategic planning conference, rather than a larger national or international strategic planning event.

I recommend: Myrna Associates offers a flat fee for two-day on-site strategic planning training seminars. The Performance Conference, a performance improvement strategies event sponsored by the American Strategic Management Institute, offers a conference only registration rate or workshop rates with group discounts available. The Strategic Thinking and Management for Competitive Advantage presented by The Wharton School features set tuition prices that include lodging and meals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To save on travel fees, consider participating in online strategic planning events. While you may not benefit from the networking opportunities that come with attending a strategic planning conference, you will still receive the same valuable educational information from the comfort of your home or office.