There are great conferences all over the country. The best part of EntreCon® is that you don’t have to leave our community to hear nationally renowned speakers. Keep in mind the value of EntreCon® when approaching your supervisor, and remember these key points:

EntreCon® is local. If you wanted to attend a conference in another city, there would be travel arrangements, hotel and food reimbursements, and time away from your family. This makes EntreCon® a great option for small businesses looking to invest in their employees without breaking the bank.

EntreCon® is not industry specific. We are community-centric instead of industry specific. This means that we truly have something for everyone. Our keynotes and breakout sessions are relevant to anyone in the business community. 

EntreCon® is for leaders of all levels. As John Maxwell once said, “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” People of all titles come to EntreCon® to be inspired, including students.  

EntreCon® is inexpensive. Instead of asking your company to shell out thousands of dollars to fly you to a big city to attend a conference, you’ll be asking for $349 for this two-day event. We also have $99 tickets for students and our new Flex Pass. With a Flex Pass you can share one badge between multiple team members in your organization. 

EntreCon® is purposeful. Beneficial and practical take-aways are provided, meaning you’ll have tangible tactics to bring back to your office upon your return. 

Step 3: Make the Ask

We find that the best way to be influential and make a compelling argument for permission to attend EntreCon® is to start with the “why”. Watch Simon Sineck’s “Start With the Why – How Great Leaders Inspire Action” video if you need convincing. 

When you do ask, remember that timing is key. Needless to say, EntreCon® is fast approaching. The time to ask is now. By giving yourself a little bit of extra time, you’ll be able to figure out not only how your job duties will be covered while you are at the conference, but also how you will share what you have learned once you return. 

When meeting with your supervisor, tell him or her that you have considered the investment the company is making, and that in order to save the company money, you’d like to sign up before November 7th — this is when prices go up. 

Remember to play to your boss’ interests! Is there a topic he or she has been really into lately? Is it building a great onboarding system? Maybe it’s hiring the right people? Highlight how EntreCon® will teach you how to make a difference in these areas. 

The bottom line is, only you know why EntreCon® is a great fit for you. Find the best way to communicate that to your boss using the tips we’ve provided. Also, feel free to use the email template below to get consideration, then book an in-person meeting to go through the details. We hope to see you there!

Use this handy email template below to get EntreCon® on your boss’ radar now: 

Subject: EntreCon® 2019 Conference Proposal

Good morning [Insert Supervisor’s Name],

I’m writing to ask for approval to attend Studer Community Institute’s annual business and leadership conference, EntreCon, on Nov. 13-14 in downtown Pensacola.

[Insert Why Statement] Ex: As we have discussed previously, I am looking to grow my leadership skills and I am in need of training. 

EntreCon offers practical tools and actionable information that I can take back and apply to our current [Insert Your Department] and overall company efforts. The keynote speakers will leave me energized with the information needed to build my leadership skill set. I’ll join hundreds of local thought-leaders and professionals to learn how linking purpose and profit will drive our organization to the next level.

Attending EntreCon will specifically help me with the following projects:

– [Insert Project or Initiative]

– [Insert Project or Initiative]

– [Insert Project or Initiative]

I do have one request: If you approve, I would like to purchase tickets before Tuesday, November 7th. 

I will submit a post-conference report or write a blog post that will include an executive summary, major takeaways, tips and pictures from the conference.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

[Insert Your Name] 

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