About 18,000 trade visitors, 770 exhibitors, and around 90% decision-makers – the Zukunft Personal Europe 2018 in Cologne is undoubtedly a trade fair that appeals to many. Despite the massive scale, we found that we are not so different after all.

Take the opportunity for a change of perspective!

Our tip for your next trade fair visit: talk to as many different people as possible, even if they don’t seem like "useful" conversation partners at first glance. An open mindset and a change of perspective provide you, as a trainer or coach, with the opportunity to better understand the views of companies. As a personnel developer, you can learn more about the life experiences and associated challenges of trainers.

In specialist media, it is often assumed that companies pursue goals such as digitization, efficiency improvement, or big data. These three aspects ranked in the top 3 of corporate investments in a survey by managerSeminare two years ago.

And trainers? Often see themselves in a “battle” against such goals and want to place the human element more in the foreground. Employee development instead of new machines, presence training instead of e-learning.

Even if both sides seem very contradictory at first glance: at trade fairs like Zukunft Personal Europe, you have the opportunity to engage directly with the other side. Perhaps you will find, as we did, that the two worlds are not so opposed and both share a common goal.

Moreover, a change of perspective helps to gain more understanding of companies or trainers, which in turn will facilitate collaboration. In the long term, companies need to generate profits. And what could be a better foundation for financial stability than successful employees?

Trade Fair Highlight at #ZPEurope18: One goal unites us all

Anyone who is concerned with the further education of personnel wants to achieve successful participants. Whether trainers, personnel developers, or software providers – we all share a passion for impactful further education. Only the role we play in that differs.

Personnel developer / provider / trainer

Successful participants in further education

The atmosphere from the GSA Convention was also present at Zukunft Personal Europe: we are part of a whole, and together we pull in the same direction. Despite the different dimensions, the context at Zukunft Personal was significantly larger with two large exhibition halls over two floors.

This feeling of a common goal motivates us even more to tackle the coming months with full speed!

Around our stand at Zukunft Personal Europe 2018.

Excitement and curiosity for new methods

It wasn't just the common goal of the different trade fair visitors that impressed us. Also, the atmosphere of a certain curiosity and hands-on mentality to simply try new things.

Filming live videos with a smartphone

Even before traveling to Zukunft Personal Europe, Konstantin had planned to capture conversations with further education experts again using his smartphone.

And he was by no means the only one: For example, Sandra Baggeler from SeminarZentrum Gut Keuchhof approached him directly and filmed a short live video for social networks. Her words to Konstantin: “I specifically bought this selfie stick. Could you hold it while we do a live interview?” – Of course, Konstantin was immediately on board, as you can see later on Facebook as a result.

Also Stefan Lapenat, Nicole Mast, and many others reported live from the trade fair on Facebook and other platforms. Trying new things was also a core principle that connected many different participants at Zukunft Personal Europe.

Business coach Jürgen Hollstein invited two people for a spontaneous live video: Michael Witzke from blink.it and Robert Jahrstorfer from Mobile GmbH Training for Professionals. The following image shows all three in an exciting making-of! You can still find this live video online – on Jürgen Hollstein's Facebook page.

Live video with a smartphone from Zukunft Personal Europe 2018. From left to right: Michael Witzke, Robert Jahrsdorfer, and Jürgen Hollstein.

Common themes at the trade fair stand

This common enthusiasm was also shown by visitors at the blink.it booth and after the impulse lectures. Both personnel developers from large companies and independent trainers and coaches are concerned with questions regarding the implementation of blended learning, which became very clear again.

Konstantin Ristl during one of his lectures in the expo area of the BDVT at Zukunft Personal Europe 2018.

You really are everywhere!

This feedback reached us repeatedly from various people who had already met us at other trade fairs, conventions, or bar camps. Yes, we really are everywhere, and we are happy to encounter more familiar faces at each event.

Some were surprised to hear that the blink.it employees themselves are not trainers, but actually sell software. That is fundamentally the greatest compliment you can give us! Because it shows that only the form or role distinguishes us and we are both working towards a common goal: successful participants in further education.

Do you share our passion for further education? Here are our upcoming event tips:

Couldn’t attend Zukunft Personal this year? Then I hope this report was able to give you an impression of the atmosphere of the trade fair halls in Cologne. Perhaps you were also there and can relate to this feeling of a common goal.

The time was tight despite the three full days! If you want to learn more about our vision for blended learning and what to consider when filming short videos with a smartphone, then check out our new page on learning materials and guidelines! We look forward to your questions and hope to see you at the latest next year at Zukunft Personal 2019!