Event planning can be an enormous responsibility whether you’re planning big conventions, small conferences, or a variety of other meetings and events for your company. Once you get into a groove with event planning, it certainly becomes easier. But the trends and best practices of event and meeting planning evolve regularly, so it’s important to keep your skills and knowledge base up-to-date so your meetings and events don’t go stale, lose participant interest, or disintegrate completely.
Here are three strategies you can employ to boost your own event and meeting planning skills.
1. READ Magazines / Websites / Blogs
Reading as many industry publications and websites as you can is a great – and very low cost way – to keep yourself current on the latest and greatest in the event planning industry. I receive the following magazines absolutely free in print format and they are also available online in web format.
- Meetings and Conventions: www.meetings-conventions.com
- Successful Meetings: www.successfulmeetings.com
- Smart Meetings: www.smartmeetings.com
- Incentive Magazine: www.IncentiveMag.com
Bonus Tip: When you see a great article in one of these print publications, find it on the respective website and SHARE the link on your social media sites so others can benefit from it, too. You’ll find lots of other friends and followers you may want to follow on social media as a result. Maximize your social media experience and build your career at the same time.
2. ATTEND Conferences / Professional Association Events / Meetings
Attending industry conferences is another fantastic way to educate yourself as well as build and develop a strong network of resources to help you plan your next event. While some conferences may have travel fees associated with them, others offer free registration for meeting and event planners (even if it’s not your full time role). So investigate what’s available and see if you can incorporate an event planning conference into your annual performance plan when review time rolls around. One of my favorite free conferences is the HSMAI event at the Navy Pier in Chicago. They have other locations across the country, too, so be sure to check them out!
- Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) www.hsmai.org
- HSMAI’s MEET Events: www.hsmaimeet.com
You may also benefit from joining a professional association specifically for meeting planners such as MPI. Monthly or quarterly events held by regional chapters is another great way to learn more while developing your network of professional meeting planning resources.
- Meeting Professionals International (MPI): www.mpiweb.org
When you attend meetings, take note of what you liked about the room configuration, handout assembly, presentation equipment, etc. This is another GREAT way to improve your own meetings by observing how others are doing it and implement those strategies or modify them and make them even better.
BONUS TIP: If you belong to ANY professional association, you can learn more about event and meeting planning by joining their program committee or special events committees. There’s nothing like hands-on experience to fast track your meeting planning skills!
3. CERTIFY
Certification programs are another excellent way to immerse yourself more fully into the meeting and event planning profession. There are several online courses and programs you can investigate, but two of the industry standards are the CMP and the CMM. They both require preparation and training in order to take the accompanying exams for certification, but the things you’ll learn as you prepare will serve you for years to come.
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP): http://www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/CMPProgram.aspx
- Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM): http://www.mpiweb.org/education/cmm
BONUS TIP: Find a friend to pursue certification with you so you have a study buddy and accountability partner throughout the journey. It can make the entire process more fun and productive for both of you!
If you’re new to event and meeting planning, don’t let all of the details and options associated with event planning scare you off or overwhelm you. Commit to advancing your skills and exposing yourself to as many resources and educational opportunities as you possibly can. Find places such as professional associations or community organizations where you can volunteer your time to assist with event planning as you gain more competence in this area. When you do this, event and meeting planning will become something you not only enjoy but look forward to doing.
If you’re a seasoned event and meeting planner already, challenge yourself to find new ideas and best practices to incorporate into each event you do to keep them fresh and inviting. Sometimes the littlest details make the biggest difference and can set the tone for an entire room of people. If you’re continually looking for new ways to “wow ‘em”…I guarantee you will!
© 2012 Julie Perrine International, LLC
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Julie Perrine, CAP-OM, is a personality strategist, personal brand analyst, and administrative mentor who teaches administrative professionals and entrepreneurs how to increase their professional opportunities and achieve more productive and meaningful relationships by utilizing innovative technology, ideas, and people. Learn more and request your FREE copy of our special report “Creating Your Strategic Administrative Career Plan” at www.AllThingsAdmin.com
