Transitioning to Corporate Event Planning
Transitioning to corporate event planning was never part of Darren W. Johnson’s plan. In 1982, The Event U founder had just been released from the Marines where he was a jet mechanic. One day, working as a truck driver, he was asked to deliver and set-up themed-party props at a hotel. Two weeks later, he was offered a job as the Manager of the Display Division of that company, launching his career in the industry with no event planning degree in hand.
There are many different reasons why someone decides to transition into corporate event planning. Understanding what it takes to plan corporate events will give you an edge from the get-go.
What Type of Event Planner Are You?
Having a good grasp of your skill set and personality type will go a long way.
Are you an organized person?
Are you creative and visionary?
Are you more detail oriented or a big picture type of person?
Three types of personalities particularly thrive in the corporate event industry. Do you recognize yourself in any one of these?
The Creative Type
Creative people typically think big. They always bring you back to the big picture, but tend to lack organizational skills and an eye for detail. They enjoy the design side of things, not the practical stuff. Budgeting is not their strong suit and they have a hard time handling pressure.
The Detailed Type
These people are very focused on administrative tasks. They are budget-conscious, they stick to timelines, and they make sure everyone else does as well.
On the other end, out-of-the-box thinking, visioning, and spontaneous decision-making are not part of their DNA. They also tend to micromanage people.
The Adrenaline Junkie
Adrenaline junkies are the enthusiastic types—those who like to get things done and always have a good mindset. They easily overcome obstacles, thanks to their ability to cope with pressure and their focus on the end goal. In fact, they can be so focused that they lose all common sense and don’t keep track of the budget.
No matter where you stand, make an effort to find solutions to strengthen the areas where you are lacking. Coaching, training, web-based tools, and office organization solutions can go a long way, but don’t be afraid to enroll colleagues with complementary skills and personality traits to make sure your corporate events go without a hitch. Strong event planners will recognize their own flaws and surround themselves with the right people. Click To Tweet
The Most Important Event Planning Skill
If there is one skill you need to develop as a corporate event planner, it’s your ability to think on your feet. Click To Tweet
Over 30 years in the industry have shown Darren Johnson that you can’t plan for everything, especially not the presence of rattlesnakes at your event. This is why you need to be able to react promptly and efficiently.
You can learn this skill over time by developing a positive mindset and by using certain tricks and tools to manage stress. As time goes by, you’ll realize you can handle more than you thought and things will become easier.
Communication Is Also Important
Being a strong communicator will serve you well.
Keep clients abreast of what is going on. If something comes in the way of your planning or if something changes, let them know as soon as possible. Trust can only be established by maintaining a constant flow of communication.
Bring colleagues, partners, and vendors together throughout the process to work out and plan the details. Collaboration is key. Thus, think of yourself as the conductor of the orchestra.
Mistakes Will Happen
Lastly, when you do make a mistake, learn from it. Your credibility as a new corporate event planner depends on it. The quicker you recover, the more successful you will be.
Have you spent countless hours searching for an online corporate event planning course to help you learn the intricacies of planning a successful event?
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