Uncertainty<\/strong> – Everyone has these moments. Maybe you\u2019re new to event planning. Maybe you\u2019re planning an event the size and scale of which is bigger than you\u2019ve tackled before and you\u2019re not sure how to go about it. As a result, you second- guess yourself at every turn. What I said above applies here. Know that eventually, your judgment will be off. You\u2019ll figure it out and move on from there.<\/p>\n Comparison<\/strong> – Yes, it\u2019s good to keep a finger on the pulse of what\u2019s happening in your industry. Yes, it\u2019s good to see what your competitors are doing. It keeps you motivated to come up with new ideas and helps you stay fresh. The downside of this is when you start comparing yourself to others. This has more to do with a lack of confidence than anything else and stems from any fears of inadequacy that might be lingering.<\/p>\n If you find yourself stuck in that rut, the answer is this: take a hiatus from observing what others in the same business as you are doing. Then, put on your blinders<\/a>, stay in your lane and move ahead confidently doing your thing. Before you know it, you will have some wins to look back on and those fears will be a thing of the past. The only way we gain confidence is by doing.<\/p>\nOften all it takes is a small tweak in the way we do things to make a big impact. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n You simply can\u2019t afford to be lacking in this area as an event producer. It is indeed a skill and, should you find your communications falling flat, this needs to be addressed immediately.<\/p>\n With the client<\/strong> – by the end of your initial planning meeting, you need to be crystal clear on what the objectives are for your event otherwise there is little chance you will be able to call it a success. You need to know the reason why the event is happening in the first place. Ask whatever questions you deem necessary to get that goal clearly outlined.<\/p>\n Also, communication is important with respect to budget. Budgets come in all shapes and sizes and often the event we want to produce can\u2019t be done on the budget provided. It can be challenging to communicate this to the client. When doing so, it\u2019s imperative that we deal with facts only when speaking to the client. It must always be clearly communicated, and then put in writing, what will and will not be included in the event so as not to misrepresent in any way the final expected result. The number one goal is always to deliver what you say you will deliver.<\/p>\n Vendors\/Suppliers<\/strong> – being clear on the tone of the event will allow you to choose the proper vendor or supplier to help you best achieve its objectives. Once you\u2019ve made the choice, a consensus must be reached for every service contracted for an event. It should be communicated verbally and in writing so that expectations are clear to every party. Timeline, load in\/load out times, service requirements and specifications for the final product according to the client\u2019s wishes must be outlined. The more time you take addressing all aspects of service, the less room there is for error.<\/p>\n With your team<\/strong> – since producing an event is not a one-person job, you need a team who you trust to carry out your vision. That trust happens when there is an effective flow of communication between you. That way, when you delegate responsibilities to team members you know they\u2019re going to get the job done without you having to micromanage. Of course, the benefit to you is more hours available in your day to put toward other areas that require your attention.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n You might wonder why this is a point unto itself since planning is, quite literally, the job. But there\u2019s planning and then there\u2019s planning.<\/p>\n You could put the details into place and trust it will all turn out for the best. However, that\u2019s leaving the job incomplete and doesn\u2019t provide peace of mind.<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t enough considering today\u2019s global landscape to simply check the boxes and cross off items on your to-do list.<\/p>\n Sufficient planning happens when you have considered all potential contingencies.<\/p>\n In case of an emergency<\/a>, what is your plan?<\/p>\n In the worst-case scenario of what could happen at your event, what will you do to recover?<\/p>\n This is easily achieved by having an emergency response plan (ERP) in place.<\/p>\n If this is the first time you\u2019re hearing about ERPs, here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/p>\n Your ERP outlines the procedures to be followed in the event of any unanticipated situations and should be clearly communicated to every person involved in your event. Also, depending on the size and scale of your event, it may be prudent to advise the local authorities so they can offer any additional guidance and potential pitfalls that you might have overlooked.<\/p>\n Areas of focus for your ERP will consider weather-related issues, fire outbreaks, sniper attacks, no-show suppliers, accessibility concerns and crowd control.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is a lot of work to plan the event itself and planning for the eventuality of something that may never occur may seem excessive. However, you\u2019ll see that the time invested in this practice is well worth the peace of mind it brings in the time leading up to and including event day.<\/p>\n Knowing that everyone is prepared for all potentialities allows for each person to focus on the task at hand with a little less stress.<\/p>\n These three aspects are vitally important skills to master because they impact all other areas of your planning.<\/p>\nPoor Communication Skills<\/h3>\n
Insufficient Planning<\/h3>\n
Have you spent countless hours searching for an online corporate event planning course to help you learn the intricacies of planning a successful event?<\/h4>\n
YOU CAN STOP SEARCHING!<\/h1>\n
Register now for E.P.I.C<\/h2>\n Go E.P.I.C.<\/strong><\/a>\n
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