If you’ve ever wondered if all meeting planners share the same needs of constant self-questioning, curiosity, and a relentless need to improve, the answer is no. Not all of them. But the good ones certainly do.
Event ticketing company Eventbrite claims that asking yourself all of these questions is actually a good thing, because it pushes you to learn new things every day.
Here are seven questions successful meeting planners ask themselves every day:
1. Why? A funny thing happens when we don’t ask why. We keep processes in place that may be inefficient, monotonous and dated instead of finding a newer and better alternative. The old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is not a motto for event planners to live by. So ask why. If the answer is “that’s how we’ve always done it,” then ask yourself a follow-up question: Is there a better way?
2. Why not? An equally important question. When an idea you truly believe in is turned down, remember that it’s not necessarily the end. You’ve got to fight for it. When you ask why not, you force others to conceptualize your vision and if they have a legitimate answer, your great idea may just need some minor tweaking to work.
3. Is it realistic? Being creative is vital, but planners have to remember that what they create must be actionable. Consider your team size, your resources and, most importantly, your event’s goals.
4. What will the attendees think? A great planner can put him or herself in the attendees’ shoes when it comes to everything from location to content and even the little details. Event planners must understand who the attendees are and what they hope to get out of the event first before other factors come into play.
5. Am I getting the best deal? If there’s one thing a planner understands, it’s a budget. How to create it, how to keep it and what they can get for it. Contract negotiation is an art for event planners.
6. What can go wrong? A successful professional in any role knows it pays to play devil’s advocate. Look for the flaws in your plan. For example, what did you overlook? This will force a good planner to create a contingency plan.
7. What can be improved upon? Something doesn’t have to go wrong to need improvement. Whether it’s a different content strategy, a venue upgrade, or even a personal trait you feel the need to work on, something can always be better for next time. Finding this out isn’t a one-man job. Successful event planners listen to their attendees and staff and encourage feedback. They then turn that feedback into actionable items.
