Justification Tips
Prepare your rock-solid justification plan to present to your supervisor using the following ideas:
- Clearly explain the value of the conference by highlighting key points.
- Download this Justification Letter Template to use as an explanation of why you want to attend and what the benefits will be. Download and complete the supporting documents (ROI Dashboard, Expense Worksheet and Testimonials) not only to help your supervisor understand the expenses associated with the conference but also the value of attendance. Tailor these as much as possible to your practice’s specific needs.
- Explain your goals in attending the conference and relate them to the needs of your organization. Be as specific as possible so that you set the right expectations up-front. Will you bring back the names of five exhibiting companies you’d like to follow up with? Will you gather one new marketing strategy to implement? Whatever your goal, make sure it’s quantifiable.
- Explain how you will report on these items to your supervisor, team, or department post-conference. Offer to share handouts or presentation slides, write up a detailed report, or make a presentation. More suggestions for post-conference reporting are included below in the resources section.
- For those seeking to obtain or renew their CIP certification, explain that attending can contribute 12 continuing education units towards your CIP credentials.
Prepare a plan showing who will cover for you in your absence and how critical work will be accomplished before, during, and directly after the conference.
Talking Points
Be ready with these key talking points when explaining the conference to your supervisor:
- The AIIM Annual Conference is the ONLY conference in the nation dedicated solely to Intelligent Information Management.
- The AIIM Conference is the event for you to learn what’s next in information management. At the AIIM Conference, you and your team will find 70+ hours of workshops and educational sessions that will show you how to get more value out of your organization’s information.
- It’s your chance to connect with peers who face the same issues your practice does. Networking events are held during the conference to help you connect with professionals similar to you.
- More than 50 companies will exhibit at the conference, specializing in a variety of products and services for information management.
- You can explore the different facets of information management through our four learning pathways that span all experience levels.
- Keynote sessions will provide inspiration, motivation, and information you will bring back to your organization.
Post-Conference Reporting
Commit upfront that you will prepare and share a conference report with your supervisor and the team. A conference report of one to three pages conveys key information about the conference to people who did not attend and ensures that you will transmit its value effectively to your organization.
Use this post-conference report template as a starting point. Examples of information you might include in the report are:
- Executive summaries of key themes, concerns, ideas, and practices discussed.
- Keynote session highlights.
- Specific educational session highlights and takeaways.
- Networking event takeaways (new contacts, why they are important, who and when you will follow up).
- Information about products and services, gathered from conversations with vendors in the exhibit hall (which companies you will follow-up with and when).
- Program ideas or recommendations picked up or thought up while at the meeting.
- Resources, checklists, articles, or tools from the conference
Take detailed notes during the conference and consider drafting the report during your travel back home when the information is freshest in your mind. If presenting the information to the team, schedule that meeting as soon as possible so it won't get lost in the shuffle of returning to the busyness of the office. .
Pre-Conference Resources
Post Conference Resources
