5 habits of highly successful event profs
Professional development is in the air. Even if you check off all the boxes, there’s always opportunity to go further. Exceptionally successful people often swear by habits, so, if you’re an event planner ready to level up, look no further than this list of the habits you’ll want to develop and nurture.
Prioritize, Prioritize
When you have a to-do list that seems a mile long, overlapping deadlines and client after client knocking on your door, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Develop a practice for staying ahead of all your tasks and projects and knowing how much time and effort you’ll need to dedicate to each. Lean on tools like digital planners or task management apps to start each day knowing exactly what needs to get done.
Proactivity is Key
No matter how much effort we put into avoiding them, mistakes and accidents happen. Good planners are masters of Plan B, but great planners anticipate potential challenges and how they’ll address them before they happen. Throughout your planning process, get in the habit of conducting risk assessments, preparing contingency plans and sharing them with your team to make any pivots you need to make that much more seamless.
Contract Like a Pro
Clear and comprehensive contracts help everyone involved. It can be easy to give them less attention, especially when you feel like you’ve got it down. But legal language can be confusing, and it’s especially important to pay attention and make sure you fully understand every aspect of your contracts. Make it a habit to review all agreements carefully and ensure they are mutually beneficial and low risk.
Read More: Event Contracts: What to Watch in 2025
Nurture Your Network
Planners know the value of bringing people together; it only makes sense that planners get better and brighter when they gather, too. Whether you’re seeking a mentor, you have wisdom to pass on to new talent or you’re looking for a professional support system, it pays to attend industry conferences and trade shows and get involved in local groups. Follow up regularly and strengthen the connections you make.
Read More: A Network to Amplify Women’s Influence
Practice Resilience
Event planning is a hard job. Its fast-paced nature, frequent travel and continuing evolution keep everyone busy—that gets stressful. Negative feedback or facing a challenge can be hurtful. When you establish a resilient mindset, you get better at maintaining your peace of mind. Explore activities that help you manage stress, such as meditation and exercise, and build them into habits to cultivate the ability to stay cool under pressure, bounce back stronger from setbacks and become more productive.
This article appears in the March 2025 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
