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With so many quality conferences available, it can be difficult for CX professionals to know which conference to attend. A recent thread on CXPA’s discussion forum shows that CX-ers are not alone in wondering which conference will offer the most value for those all-too-often scarce professional development funds.

I’ve been a CX practitioner for many years, and during this time, I’ve attended several CX conferences. While I’ve learned something and found value in each of them, some experiences have been more beneficial for me and my organization than others. I’ve internalized some guiding principles that I keep in mind when choosing a conference, and I wanted to share them with you.

Don’t Limit Who You Can Connect With

Some CX conferences are hyper-focused on specific audiences and segments (“Welcome to the 2020 CX Conference for Carwash Owner-Operators!”). And while it can be energizing to be surrounded by professionals who face the same challenges, the potential to come away with breakthrough insights can be diminished. Often, the ability to interact with and learn from those in different industries and geographies—serving customers who have different needs—can spur critical thinking, creative problem solving, and ultimately, innovation, which is critical to overcoming entrenched challenges and enabling your CX success.

Don’t Limit Yourself to a Single Perspective

CX providers are a critical part of a healthy CX ecosystem. Without effective CX tools and the thought leaders who developed and evangelized them, modern CX programs would not have been able to make the gains they have realized today. But it’s important for CX practitioners to consider that no one tool or perspective holds the ultimate key to success within their organizations. Attending a conference that offers exposure to a diversity of thought leadership about how to best achieve CX success—and the role of various CX tools and approaches in getting there—is critical.

Don’t Lose Sight of Your Goals

You must be clear about what your goals are when choosing a conference—and how important each of them is to you. Is one of your goals to travel to a destination location so you can combine business and leisure? Is it important that there are quality keynotes who will be speaking on topics that are relevant to you and your business challenges? Getting clear on your goals, and then evaluating the conference offerings against those goals, can give you clarity when it is time to choose.

CXPA’s Global Insight Exchange

CXPA’s conference, Global Insight Exchange, takes place April 27^th-29^th in Orlando, Florida, steps from Walt Disney World. With the help of volunteers, CXPA has planned a conference that will deliver inspiring, relevant, non-biased content to attendees, connect CX professionals around the world and empower them to overcome obstacles and drive customer-focused change within their organizations. I attended my first Insight Exchange in 2017, and it was an amazing experience. The keynotes and speakers on the agenda (myself included) share a passion for CX. This year, confirmed attendees from Canada, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, South Africa, Vietnam, UAE, the Netherlands, Spain, and more will bring a global perspective to CX challenges. Whichever conference you choose, I hope that you find maximum value in it that elevates your CX program to new levels of achievement.