Learn it. Share it. Use it.

The difference between thriving and merely surviving often comes down to one thing: learning. Printing companies that actively invest in the growth of their people can gain fresh insight and ideas. Whether it’s through industry events and conferences, peer groups or a dedicated industry training program, they gain a clearer view of what’s coming next. Face it, in today’s fast-changing print landscape, being able to anticipate, and see around corners can be a competitive advantage.

But too often, the value of that learning stays with the individual who attended the event. For owners and leaders, the goal should be to turn every learning opportunity into a multiplier that benefits the entire organization.

Why Conferences and Networking Matter

Industry events or local peer roundtables are more than just travel and tradeshow booths. When approached with purpose, they provide real business value. Participation gives you firsthand insight into technology and competitive strategy that could be hard to see behind a screen. You can learn from your peers as well. Everyone seems to solve problems differently and there are multiple ways to get to a solution. Learners also lean on their suppliers to provide them with industry insight and best practice ideas.

The hallways and conference breaks can sometimes yield the best networking opportunities. Get to know others and hear what they’re doing. These conversations can be a catalyst solving a problem or creating a professional relationship with an industry peer. Who knows, you may meet someone who has moved past the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset.

The Leadership Opportunity: Share and Scale the Learning

To unlock the real value of these experiences, leaders should create a structure that turns individual learning into organizational learning. Here’s how to make it happen:

• Expect a Debrief
  Within 48 hours of returning from an event, ask the attendee to prepare a brief summary of their top 3–5 takeaways. These should focus on what was learned, why it matters, and how it might apply to your business. This isn’t about writing a report—it’s about sparking insight and identifying practical ideas worth exploring. An added benefit is that when you learn something – knowing that you’ll have to teach or share it, it helps you learn with more intention.
• Host a Learning Huddle
  Schedule a 15–30-minute team huddle where the attendee shares highlights and observations. Make it interactive. Ask:
  • “Which of these ideas could we try?”
  • “Where might this improve how we work or serve customers?
  • “What would success look like if we applied this?”

Bringing more voices into the conversation increases buy-in and builds a culture of shared curiosity.

• Capture a Quick-Read Summary
  Encourage the attendee to create a one-page document with simple bullet points that captures the key takeaways, any immediate opportunities and what areas they should explore further. Distribute this internally so others, especially those who couldn’t attend, can benefit from the insight.
• Pilot an idea
  If something stands out as truly impactful, assign a small group to test it. Whether it’s a new sales tactic, workflow update, or customer touchpoint, a quick pilot shows that learning leads to action. Small, visible wins build momentum and shows your team that ideas from outside the walls can drive real change.
• Reinforce a Learning Culture
  Make learning part of how your company operates. At team meetings, ask “What’s something new you’ve seen, read, or heard that we should know?” This reinforces the idea that staying informed and adaptable is everyone’s job.

Press the “Start” button

Events and conferences aren’t just for senior staff or salespeople—they’re for any team member with curiosity and the potential to contribute. Leaders who set the expectations and invest in sending the right people, position their companies for long-term success. By setting expectations, creating opportunities for sharing, and acting on new ideas, you turn a day at a conference into a step forward for the business and reinforce the learning culture of the organization.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to ambitious owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic insight, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.

The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions.