Think you’re good at your job? The language you use in the workplace is a dead giveaway as to the strength of your abilities and your attitude, so it can have a huge impact on the success of your career.
We’ve compiled a list of 7 things only bad event planners ever say – so you know what to avoid!
1. ‘Yes’ to everything
You’re only human and you only have one set of hands, so don’t take on more than you can handle. You will gain more respect for saying no once in a while than you will being a packhorse.
As Jacqueline Whitmore says, an etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach, “‘No’ is the Most Important Word You’ll Ever Say,” and it helped her go from unfocused and stagnating to a successful business owner working on only the best opportunities.
Remember that saying no doesn’t make you difficult, stubborn or unhelpful – to carry out your job effectively it is necessary to prioritise and manage your time in the most efficient way possible, so you can’t take on every little thing thrown your way.
Related: 5 Bad habits that can lead to unsuccessful events
2. It was ‘their fault’ or ‘your responsibility’
While it’s true that team members and suppliers can sometimes let us down, pointing the finger of blame does nothing to alleviate a bad situation.
At the end of the day, their failure could be just as much to do with your management skills. Therefore, rather than bickering, it’s time to take responsibility, regain control and fix the problem like the professional you are.
If you always blame others when things go wrong, you will quickly find no one wants to work with you. In addition, if you never examine how your own actions contributed towards or could have prevented an issue you will fail to grow professionally.
3. I assumed…
As Benjamin Franklin once famously said, if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!
A good event planner never assumes anything – they ask all the questions, check all the facts, cross the t’s and dot the i’s, and always plan ahead. You’ll notice the best usually have a Plan A, B, C and D.
It’s no good assuming the museum will be open for your group tour and then turning up to discover it closes half day on Wednesday. Likewise, you can’t just expect a Spanish hotel to understand the customs of a ceilidh dinner. Check and double-check everything!
Related: 12 Stories of Events Gone Wrong and Lessons Learned
4. But it always/never happens like that
The best event planners are those who are able to think outside the box. Just because you have always done something one way, doesn’t mean it’s the only (or the best) way to do it.
Take for example meeting formats; traditionally a conference involved delegates sitting passively in classroom style being talked at, but today we’re increasingly realising the benefits of interactive sessions, break-out sessions, downtime and even ‘unconferences‘.
Those who are open-minded to alternative ways of doing things are the innovators driving the profession forward, otherwise you’ll find yourself stuck in the past.
Related: 7 Things the most successful event organisers do every day
5. That’s impossible
As we’ve just discussed, having a rigid mindset is not a trait of an effective planner. Your job is to work with clients to bring their vision to reality by offering creative solutions.
You might not have ever suspended a car from the roof of a venue before, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Good event organisers look at all the options and if a solution still cannot be found, offer a suitable alternative – in this case, perhaps raising the car up on a podium.
Related: 7 Signs you were born to work in events
6. I’m not doing that!
When you’ve worked in an industry for a reasonable length of time and achieved a level of seniority, it’s natural to be reluctant to take on perceived menial tasks.
However, a good event planner understands that it is sometimes necessary to put all hands on deck. Being willing to muck in and join staff on the registration desk or helping stuff a thousand bags, demonstrates your commitment to the successful running of the event and will garner respect from your team.
It will also help keep you grounded and more empathetic of the little things your team do on a day-to-day basis, which may yield the insights you need to find new and better ways of doing things.
7. I can’t, I’m on my break
You don’t become an event organiser for a quiet life. A good event planner knows they are always on call.
While you should have the support of a good team, the buck ultimately stops with you, and if something goes wrong you need to be there to fix it.
Event planning is not a 9-5 job, so to thrive you must be dedicated, flexible and demonstrate a can-do attitude.
Related: 14 Traits of highly effective event professionals
Conclusion
Do any of these sound familiar? Do you work with anyone who says these things on a regular basis? Or are you guilty of uttering any of the above?
If so, don’t panic! It’s great to be aware of your language so you can work to improve on it, or help a colleague adjust the way they communicate. With the issue identified, you’ll be seen as a high-flying event planner before you can say “success”.
What other words or phrases do you associate with poor event planning? Share them with us in the comments!
