Immersion: It’s Not Just for Bathtubs
As I get older, more and more body parts ache! Sometimes I use the sauna / plunge pool at the gym as a way of treating aches and pains (and it has lots of other benefits too!). On my most recent dip in the icy cold water, it occurred to me how similar this is to attending live, in-person training events. I mean, I could sit at home on my couch and alternate between a hot wheat bag and an ice pack. But an ‘immersion’ approach is so, so, so much more effective and beneficial!
On my couch with a wheat bag / ice pack – sure, it’s easier and more comfortable, but also:
- I can only really treat one or two places
- I get distracted by other things rather than focusing on the muscles being treated
- It’s so one-dimensional: I can feel the hot / cold, but that’s all I’m getting
When I’m using the sauna / plunge pool:
- I can treat so many different things (even the ones I didn’t realise I needed!)
- I’m very rarely ever there on my own: which means I’m swapping war stories, picking up tips or things others have tried, getting recommendations on other treatments, and feeling better about not being the only one that has these aches and pains!
- I’m fully immersed. Not just physically, but also mentally – all I think about in there is the heat / cold (no device distractions!). I’m present in that place and time and all of my senses are being used.
It’s exactly the same when I compare attending something online versus attending something in-person. That’s one of the reasons the Digital Workplace Conference is so rewarding. If you’ve attended before, of course you’ll know this already!
This year, there are 35 speakers from across the globe helping immerse us in a learning experience. There are 8 pre and post conference workshops to choose from, and 40 sessions across 4 tracks (one of them is a dedicated Power Platform track!)!
I’m really excited to see the content AI demonstration using SharePoint Premium (with Gokan Ozcifci); learn how to build a rich People Search (with Peter Carson); and … oh my gosh there are so many sessions, it’s so hard to choose which ones to attend!
I am also super excited about the Awards Evening – in particular, the Digital Workplace Superstar award! These are the type of individuals that I meet in my job, so it’s always heart-warming to see champions of change being recognised for their standout contributions.
To top all this amazing content off, we are lucky enough to be in Christchurch for the event for the first time! Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has been designed as Ōtautahi Christchurch’s ‘gathering place’: a key part of the regeneration of the city.
So take the plunge – choose immersion…. And I will see you there!