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I bet you're wondering how spending a few days not doing work and hanging out at a productivity conference with your peers actually helps you get more work done instead of less.

Attending conferences is a great way to stay on top of industry trends, network with peers, and learn from experts. You'll get a swath of actionable takeaways you can implement into your daily work life.

Here's my summary of each conference and an explanation of why it's great, with key details so you can plan to attend.

Best Productivity Conferences 2024 Shortlist

Here's my shortlist of the best productivity conferences I think are worth attending in 2024.

  1. Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program Meeting, Spring 2024 - Cambridge, MA (April 2024)
  2. APQC 2024 Conference - Houston, TX (May 2024)
  3. Great Place to Work For All Summit - New Orleans, LA (May 2024)
  4. Eighth Biennial Enhancing Sales Force Productivity Conference - Tampere, Finland (May 2024)
  5. Lean and Productivity Summit - Dublin, Ireland, UK (May 2024)
  6. Gallup at Work Summit 2024 - Omaha, NE (June 2024)
  7. Productivity Forum - Birmingham, UK (September 2024)
  8. Northern Ireland Lean, Continuous Improvement & Productivity Summit - Belfast, Ireland (September 2024)
  9. IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum - Chicago, IL (September 2024)
  10. LEARN Events London - London, UK (February 2024)

Find more details about each conference below.

Best Productivity Conferences Of 2024

1. Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program Meeting, Spring 2024 - Cambridge, MA (April 2024)

Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program Meeting, Spring 2024 website screenshot
This conferences brings together experts to discuss productivity enhancements, innovative practices, & entrepreneurship.

Overview:

The Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program Meeting focuses on enhancing understanding and developing strategies around productivity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

It covers topics such as technological advances in the space, business model innovation, and the impacts of new policies on entrepreneurship, as well as features speakers who are leading researchers and practitioners in these fields.

Why You Should Attend:

Attending this conference offers unique insights into cutting-edge research and practical applications that are shaping the global productivity landscape. This event provides essential knowledge and networking opportunities for leaders and innovators in the sector.

2. APQC 2024 Conference - Houston, TX (May 2024)

APQC 2024 Conference website screenshot
The APQC Conference is an event for exploring best practices in productivity and process improvement across industries.

Overview:

The APQC Conference is a leading event focusing on process and performance management.

The conference covers topics such as benchmarking and organizational improvement strategies. Renowned speakers at the conference include industry experts and leaders in process management.

Why You Should Attend:

Attending the APQC 2024 Conference offers the opportunity to gain insights into effective process management techniques, learn from industry leaders, and network with peers in the labor market.

Whether you're looking to optimize processes, drive organizational performance, or enhance business efficiency and retention, this conference provides valuable resources and knowledge to help you achieve your goals and contribute to productivity growth.

3. Great Place to Work For All Summit - New Orleans, LA (May 2024)

Great Place to Work For All Summit website screenshot
This summit focuses on building high-performance cultures that enhance organizational productivity and inclusivity.

Overview:

The Great Place to Work For All Summit focuses on creating inclusive and high-performing workplace cultures.

The summit covers topics such as employee engagement and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Esteemed speakers at the summit include leaders from top organizations and experts in workplace culture.

Why You Should Attend:

Attending the Great Place to Work For All Summit offers insights into building and sustaining a positive workplace culture that fosters employee engagement and drives organizational success.

With a focus on DEI, this summit provides actionable strategies and best practices to create workplaces where all employees can thrive.

4. Eighth Biennial Enhancing Sales Force Productivity Conference - Tampere, Finland (May 2024)

Eighth Biennial Enhancing Sales Force Productivity Conference website screenshot
This conference focuses on the latest strategies and technologies to boost sales force productivity and effectiveness.

Overview:

The Eighth Biennial Enhancing Sales Force Productivity Conference aims to advance sales force productivity by integrating cutting-edge AI technology and exploring effective sales management techniques.

It will cover topics such as AI-driven sales strategies, performance analytics, and talent management, with presentations from distinguished sales experts and leading researchers.

Why You Should Attend:

The unique focus on AI applications within sales contexts makes this conference an essential experience for sales professionals looking to innovate and excel in a digitally driven market.

It is an excellent opportunity to learn from top minds in the field and to network with peers who are similarly focused on harnessing technology to enhance productivity and effectiveness in sales.

5. Lean and Productivity Summit - Dublin, Ireland, UK (May 2024)

Lean and Productivity Summit website screenshot
The Lean and Productivity Summit addresses efficiency and waste reduction using Lean principles.

Overview:

The Lean and Productivity Summit is dedicated to exploring lean methodologies and productivity improvement strategies.

Topics covered include lean manufacturing, process optimization, and continuous improvement. Esteemed speakers at the summit include lean practitioners, industry leaders, and productivity experts.

Why You Should Attend:

This summit offers a unique opportunity to learn about lean principles and productivity enhancement techniques from leading experts in the field.

Whether you're involved in manufacturing, service industries, or organizational management, attending this summit equips you with practical insights and tools to streamline processes, eliminate waste, and drive operational excellence.

Find more conferences covering lean and other agile methods at these agile conferences.

6. Gallup at Work Summit 2024 - Omaha, NE (June 2024)

Gallup at Work Summit website screenshot
This conference explores data-driven approaches to enhance workplace engagement and productivity.

Overview:

The Gallup at Work Summit focuses on the latest research, insights, and best practices that are shaping the future of work. Topics include strategies for improving the workplace, employee engagement, and leadership development.

Keynote speakers include David C. Wilson, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley; Gordon Gee, President of West Virginia University; and Ella F. Washington, Professor at Georgetown University.

Why You Should Attend:

This summit offers a critical opportunity to gain firsthand insights from leading thinkers in workplace productivity and employee engagement. Attendees will benefit from actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately to enhance their leadership and organizational effectiveness.

If you're looking for more leadership conferences relevant to agency owners, check out this list.

7. Productivity Forum - Birmingham, UK (September 2024)

Productivity Forum website screenshot
This conference is dedicated to discussing innovative strategies for enhancing workplace productivity and operational efficiency.

Overview:

The Productivity Forum focuses on addressing contemporary business challenges related to enhancing productivity.

The event features panel discussions, industry updates, and practical sessions on how businesses are currently improving productivity, with opportunities to hear from and interact with productivity experts and teams.

Why You Should Attend:

This forum provides a unique platform to engage in open discussions and share experiences with others facing similar productivity challenges.

Attending the Productivity Forum is an excellent chance to gain insights and practical solutions that can drive significant improvements in your organization's efficiency and output.

8. Northern Ireland Lean, Continuous Improvement & Productivity Summit - Belfast, Ireland (September 2024)

Northern Ireland Lean, Continuous Improvement & Productivity Summit website screenshot
The Northern Ireland Lean, Continuous Improvement & Productivity Summit focuses on Lean methodologies.

Overview:

The Northern Ireland Lean, Continuous Improvement & Productivity Summit focuses on lean management, continuous improvement, and enhancing productivity across various sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and more.

Key topics include business transformation, waste reduction, change management, and data/IT optimization, with speakers like Dr. Mary Harte from Horizon Europe; Rod O'Doherty, Director of Salar IT Ltd; and John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain.

Why You Should Attend:

As a unique convergence point for leaders from diverse sectors, this summit offers practical insights into the latest methodologies and technologies driving efficiency and cost reductions.

Attending this event will provide you with the strategies and connections needed to significantly improve your organization's operational effectiveness.

9. IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum - Chicago, IL (September 2024)

IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum website screenshot
Learn about the impact of health on workforce productivity and corporate performance at this conference.

Overview:

The IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum explores the multifaceted aspects of workforce health and productivity, focusing on health and wellbeing, medical and pharmacy plan design, absence and disability management, and the importance of data, metrics, and reporting in understanding and improving employee productivity.

Notable speakers typically include leaders in corporate health management and research experts in workplace productivity.

Why You Should Attend:

This forum is crucial for professionals looking to integrate comprehensive health strategies into their business models to drive productivity. Attending this event will provide critical insights and strategies to optimize both employee well-being and business outcomes.

10. LEARN Events London - London, UK (February 2024)

LEARN Events London website screenshot
Attend interactive workshops and keynotes on technology and strategies to enhance learning and productivity at this event.

Overview:

LEARN Events London is a premier conference focusing on learning and development strategies for professionals across industries.

The conference covers topics such as training methodologies, talent development, and organizational learning. Esteemed speakers at the event include learning professionals, industry experts, and thought leaders.

Why You Should Attend:

Attending LEARN Events London provides a valuable opportunity to gain insights into effective learning and development strategies, connect with peers, and discover innovative approaches to talent management.

Whether you're responsible for training programs, employee development, or organizational learning initiatives, this conference offers practical solutions and inspiration to enhance your professional practice and drive business success.

Find more project management conferences here.

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By Galen Low

Galen is a digital project manager with over 10 years of experience shaping and delivering human-centered digital transformation initiatives in government, healthcare, transit, and retail. He is a digital project management nerd, a cultivator of highly collaborative teams, and an impulsive sharer of knowledge. He's also the co-founder of The Digital Project Manager and host of The DPM Podcast.