By Dr. David Hoch, EdD, CMAA
As happens across the country come springtime, Maryland recently held its annual State Athletic Directors Association Conference. During this event, I observed something lacking by a number of attendees as I took in the presentations and seminars. That missing ingredient was conference courtesy.
It's hard to say exactly what leads to a lack of conference courtesy, but perhaps such behavioral oversights can be chalked up to a momentary loss of common sense or lapse in social awareness. The episodes of conference discourtesy likely were not intentional, nor were they mean-spirited, but they certainly led to some uncomfortable moments that easily could have been avoided.
So, how can we improve conference courtesy? The following suggestions may help:
1. Don't show up late for any presentation, speaker or course. Once the presentation has begun, opening the door of the session room unleashes noise from the hallway and can distract the speaker and audience. The individual who is making these presentations usually does so for no fee and the least we can do is prevent disruptions, which can interrupt his focus and flow. It is simply rude and unacceptable to enter after the start of a session.
2. Turn off your cell phone. In any meeting, speech or course, this should be the standard expectation. Even if you have your phone on "vibrate" mode, never take a call during a session. This represents total disrespect for the speaker or instructor.
3. Never leave a session early, even if you find that you aren't really interested in the topic. Standing up and exiting mid-presentation will, just like entering late, create a disruption and no speaker should have to endure this behavior by someone in the audience.
4. Avoid making comments, no matter how brief, to other members of the audience during a presentation. Even if you are agreeing with a point that has been made, this undercurrent is unacceptable in professional settings. If you are talking, not only could you distract the speaker and others who are trying to listen, but also you and the individual to whom you are speaking will probably miss the next important point.
5. Give the speaker a round of applause and offer a thank you at the conclusion of the presentation. Most speakers put in a great deal of time and effort preparing their topic or talk and usually do it as a contribution to the profession. At least we can offer our appreciation, which is often the main motivation for speakers to accept in the first place.
It is absolutely imperative that everyone gives a speaker his or her ultimate attention, respect and gratitude. This is what constitutes professional courtesy and it is a must at all of our conferences. I challenge each reader to take these thoughts into consideration the next time you're attending a seminar or meeting. A little convention courtesy can go a long way toward making an event more beneficial to everyone involved.
David Hoch, EdD, CMAA, is the Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md. He is past President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors' Association and a frequent contributor to Athletic Management. He can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.