To many, the idea of event production is fun, it’s sexy, it’s a non-stop party. Who wouldn’t want to be in this industry?

But, while it is all of those things, there are two sides to every coin. A lot goes into making an event seem effortless. It takes a lot of hard work and you have to be on your game.

If you’ve worked in this arena for any length of time, you’ll begin to see patterns emerge among event planners. 

What do I mean by that?

Certain characteristics seem to be more prevalent among those working in this industry.

Those that find any measure of success have these traits:

Superior Communication Skills

This is arguably the most important skill one can possess as an event planner. When you’re producing an event, you have many collaborators. It’s imperative that you’re able to communicate your vision clearly with your client and then translate that vision to members of your team as well as third-party suppliers and vendors so that you reach your objectives.

While some are born with exceptional communication skills, others aren’t as gifted. For those who need a little help in this area, you’re in luck – this is definitely a skill that can be learned.

Confidence Is Key

This trait comes into play throughout the planning process. In fact, your event won’t move forward without it.

If you’re lacking confidence, it allows for self-doubt to rear its ugly head.

A lack of confidence can keep from you taking a risk on that cutting-edge creative idea you had that might be the very thing that makes your event a showstopper. It can keep you from taking action when faced with situations in which immediate decisions are required. Maybe you don’t have all the facts or maybe you aren’t certain how your client would like to proceed. Being confident allows you to make that choice based on the information you do have, which keeps everything moving in a forward direction.

Successful planners are ones who confidently take a stand, and move ahead in a specific direction knowing that they can recalculate down the road if it’s necessary.

Plays Well With Others

Nice guys don’t always finish last; in fact, at times they come out ahead of the game.

Nobody wants to do business with someone who’s adversarial. Fostering an attitude that makes others want to help you or meet your service requirements is the right approach to have.

It’s our natural inclination to help others; however, that will end fast if you always have to get your own way. Be flexible, willing to compromise and let go of the need to be right.

Be someone who encourages a feeling of goodwill and everyone will win in the end.

Courage Under Fire

These are the unflappable ones. Nothing phases them.

Metaphorical fires are breaking out around them and they handle each one with a level head.

People who exemplify this trait have two things in abundance: graciousness and flexibility.

Diplomacy is their calling card when handling conflict – be that with the client, a team member or suppliers.

Accidents happen. Mishaps occur and no event goes off without a hitch leaving you to deal with high-pressure situations.

Big egos can come into play when this happens and there’s bound to be conflicting viewpoints.

However, the difference for people like this is they take things in stride and are comfortable living in a state of flux. They stay calm, think on their feet and pivot on a moment’s notice.

Exceptionally Organized

We’ve all met this kind of person. This person is often complimented because of their extraordinary ability to retain every detail and recall it at will.

These people make exceptional planners because they’re aware of every facet of the event.

They can handle multiple tasks at once, honing in on details to ensure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed.

They’re the ones that will keep everything moving on time, respecting schedules and deadlines every step of the way.

Creative Minds

Have you ever attended an event that was jaw-dropping? If so, chances are there is a visionary behind the idea that has creativity in spades. This characteristic is the one that will have you creating events that astound and impact your audience – which is a must to make them stand out from the others.

This person finds inspiration in the most unlikely of places, from the mundane to the bizarre. Taking that inspiration, transferring it into their event is their specialty and the results usually amaze.

Often, when one allows their creativity to flourish, it can result in the other necessary characteristics to take a back seat. The challenge is to achieve more balance among the traits.

As you read these traits, did you take inventory to see how you fared?

If you found yourself needing further development in any of these areas, consider expanding your know-how. There are many avenues out there by which to do that.

Maybe that looks like attending classes to develop skills such as communication or organization. Perhaps it’s being more attentive in your day-to-day dealings to create an environment that is a win-win for everyone concerned. And maybe it looks like bringing people on your team whose qualities balance out yours.

Even the most seasoned professionals have more to learn. Spending the time rounding out your competence level is an investment in the quality of events you produce.

Happy planning!

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