Did you realize there are 33 essential skills you must master to be an efficient and effective event organizer? Here’s a preview of PYM’s newest educational series.
Remember, spreadsheets are our friends
Also keep in mind that procurement is a verb, and that means it requires action on your part.
Get your message out loud and clear
Most good themes are developed in brainstorming sessions, either in groups or through your own imagination.
The right preparation takes guesswork out of what-ifs
Wow, the title of this section — standards and procedures for project management — is a yawn, don’t you think? But read on …
Crafting a solid project plan is a critical first step
This attention to detail separates the most successful planners from the rest of the pack.
5 tips for building, growing your professional connections
No alliance can succeed if there is not equality and mutual benefit at its foundation.
Getting the most mileage out of going face-to-face
There are a few simple items, which, if addressed, can turn nonbelievers into vocal advocates for your event.
6 ways communicators can clean up their act
For both experts and newbies, less is more.
In other words, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight
Communication basics are a practical necessity.
Get that in writing! Spelled correctly, of course
Written communication can make us look like a superstar or an idiot in the blink of an eye. Some tips …
There really are times when email, text just won’t do
As meeting planners, we are champions of the power of live, face-to-face communication.
Make sure you and your team keep getting better
Take a step back and see if how you work helps your team members improve. There are a number of ways you can make sure you all get better.
The best decision you can make today: Analyzing your decisions
Decision-making is integral to doing our jobs successfully, so it’s important to do a self-check to ensure that we’re making solid choices.
You can find time to stay current on news and trends
There aren’t enough hours in the day as it is. So how do we make time for staying current on industry trends? Try dedicating 15 minutes a day to education or adding “lunch and learn” sessions to your workweek …
To fix any problem, you must first understand it
Problem-solving is the nature of our business and if you are not 100 percent committed to the project (the goal), you will never truly succeed.
Time isn’t the enemy when you know how to manage it
We have all heard “time is of the essence” and “time is money,” but how do you use the minutes and hours of the day to your advantage?
Every planner deserves a massage, manicure or dance break
Managing production schedules. Selecting the menu. Planning meetings. Flight schedules. Walk-throughs on both sides of the city on the same day. Oh, and family responsibilities. It can be a lot on one person’s plate. But we’re not just one person. We’re meeting planners. And that kind of makes us superheroes. We can do it all. […]
Listening well opens door to good relationships
Working with colleagues is an important part of any job, but it’s crucial when planning meetings and events.
Industry challenges Part 2: Economic, government obstacles
Meeting planners can’t keep the Euro from collapsing or prevent a double-dip U.S. recession. But they can prepare to be their own best advocates.
Today’s workforce is multicultural, are you?
With societal shifts, and the impact of new technology, the meetings industry is a whole new world. Our tips.
Boss vs. leader: Each has a purpose, which one are you?
Being a boss and being a leader are two entirely different things …
For better or worse, first impressions create lasting results
Three seconds. That’s all the time we get to make a first impression. When you think about it, that’s a lot of pressure, especially in a business setting.
Beware the shrimp boat, and look for the wow
Balance, form and function, scale, interest and unity are the guidelines to good design, says James S. Rota, who learned the hard way. Ask him about the shrimp boat.
Ready, set … surprise! Averting disaster
For most, the blackout of the century would be a reason to cancel a program, but not if you’re an event strategist. Make sure you’re ready if any crisis, large or small, hits.
Start at the end, and you will end up on top
Setting goals — creating excitement for a new product launch or helping the sales force deal with change, for example — should be what drives you. Your theme and message should support the goal.
Logistics or design? Let the learning begin!
When planning a program, which is more important, the logistics or the design? The answer, just as with the proverbial “chicken or the egg?” question, depends on your perspective.
Do you have what it takes to be a meeting planner?
There are 33 skills that meeting professionals must master before they can achieve the Meeting and Business Event Competency Standards (MBECS). A joint creation of Meeting Professionals International and the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, the free public guide provides the first comprehensive, global set of standards for the meeting and event industry. The standards […]
