"Top 10 Ways to Get the Most from any CE Experience"
Continuing Education, whether you need CE Credits or are looking to expand your professional knowledge, is essential to developing your practice. The following tips can make certain you get the highest return on your CE investment:
1. Prepare a list of expectations: Write down a list of your goals for attending the seminar. Refer back to the list during the program to determine if you are meeting your own goals. The Law of Expectation plays a big part in what you and your team will gain from any CE program. If you find that you have unanswered questions, be sure to bring those up to the presenter during a break or at lunch. The speaker is usually more than happy to cover topics that the audience is interested in discussing.
2. Leave the office behind, but bring your team with you whenever possible: Team participation will project commitment towards the implementation of the course objectives and your list of goals.
3. Brag to your Patients: Encourage your team to let your patients know about the courses they (and you) have attended. Patients love knowing that your office is keeping current with the latest techniques and procedures. Let the team brag about the commitment of your office to provide the highest quality dentistry with the highest level of excitement. Enthusiasm is contagious—and patients will pass this enthusiasm on to their family, friends, and colleagues.
4. Don’t forget to have a good time: People enjoy and retain more information when they are having fun. Keeping a level of professional leadership, along with a fun loving attitude, will go a long way in giving your team confidence to attend more programs with you. Making attendance a win-win situation will encourage your team to continually develop their expert knowledge base as well.
5. Network: Meet as many of the participants in the class as possible. If you come with a colleague, sit next to someone you don’t know so you can meet new people. Encourage your whole team to do the same. You can always rejoin later if details in the course require your office to work together on a project. If you see someone sitting or standing alone, take time to introduce yourself. Use this as a form of accountability for yourself and your team to get the most from the program.
6. Take an active role: Ask questions! Generally there are at least five other people in the room with the same question. Sit closer to the front of the class. The most aggressive learners sit in the front to get the most out of the presentation and are better able to stay focused during an all-day seminar. Arrive early to make sure you get the best seats.
7. Take Notes: Studies show that within 3 hours of hearing something, we forget 50% of what was said. Within 24 hours, we forget another 25% and so on. Take copious notes and review the handout information as soon as possible.
8. Maximize your ROI: Be a strong leader. Set aside time for a brief meeting to review your notes and the notes from your team within days after the seminar. Wednesday is a great day to work this in. Block out time on the schedule at the same time you register for a program. This will give you and your staff an opportunity to follow up and agree on a time frame for incorporating new ideas into your practice.
9. Measure your Success: Remember that new habits take time to form into a pattern. Find a way to measure success and allow everyone (including yourself) the opportunity to gradually, but systematically, monitor the progress taking place.
10. Continue to learn new things: This will make a huge difference in your practice and throughout your team. Not only will your team and patients take pleasure in the energized atmosphere, but you also will personally feel more fulfilled and will see the positive effects on your mind, your family, and your business.
Connie Rempala