How to sell your boss on sending you to an ACES conference
By ACES Staff
You know you’ll come away refreshed and recharged, but how do you convince your boss that you need to attend an ACES conference? Here’s a cheat sheet for talking through the typical concerns:
We’re understaffed; we can’t lose you for that long.
The ACES conference is a chance for inspiration with extraordinary editors and colleagues from across the country. I’ll be attending educational sessions and events with people just like me, so I’ll come back with more energy, ideas, and new methods that will make me more valuable and productive.
It’s too expensive/we don’t have a budget for this.
This conference offers a great value — it’s three full days of training, connections, and experiences that can’t be purchased at a better price. ACES is among the least expensive communications and editing conferences. ACES has secured reasonable hotel rates for attendees, and to save even more, I can split the cost of a hotel room with a colleague
We can only send you to one conference. Why is this one the best?
ACES is recognized as the authority on editing excellence and an advocate for copy editors. Sessions at ACES cover an extensive range of editing issues and topics that have everyday meaning. To get a sense of what’s offered at an ACES conference, check out archives from past conferences.
Don’t we already give enough money to ACES?
Our membership dues directly support the profession, pay for practical resources, promote professional standards, and provide members with specific benefits. Membership also gets us a discount on registration.
How do I know this isn’t just an excuse for one big party?
Sure, there will be networking receptions, but they’ll provide serious interaction with teachers, innovators, established editors, and vendors. It’s an opportunity to allow me to share information, brainstorm ideas, and solve problems. Plus, the bulk of each day is devoted to actual training sessions.
What’s in it for us?
In addition to the countless idea-generating presentations, sessions, and workshops, ACES offers programs specifically designed to increase accuracy and productivity. Plus, I can bring back handouts from the sessions I attend and share what I learned with everyone. And many of the sessions offer good training for all communications professionals, so what I share when I get back to the office will help all of my coworkers, not just the editors. (Bosses love brown-bag sessions.)
Sounds pretty convincing, doesn’t it? Don’t wait a minute longer — go have that talk with your boss now and start planning for your next ACES experience today!
SOME OTHER IDEAS
Many of our members do pay their own way, but that doesn’t mean you should lose precious vacation time to do it. Offer to switch your normal days off or cash in that comp time. Offer to pay for the airfare or hotel costs in exchange for registration fees (or conference fees in exchange for hotel costs) or being on the clock for the conference.
Attending the ACES National Conference will help you become a bigger asset to your company. If your manager is still on the fence, consider sending them to our website and reading our testimonials and stories from past conferences. If you or your boss have any additional questions or concerns, the ACES team is here to help.
