Did you know that "event coordinator" ranked as the fifth most stressful job in 2016? And that's behind only enlisted military personnel, firefighters, airline pilots and police officers. Successfully executing events requires a wide range of skills and nerves of steel.
To celebrate the everyday heroes of the event industry, here are the top 10 qualities of successful event managers:
1) 1. They have people skills.
The number one quality that successful event managers share? People talents. You must be comfortable connecting with senior executives, government officials, vendors, coworkers, sponsor representatives, clients, supervisors, suppliers, staff and event attendees. To work successfully with this wide range of people, you will need to be able to resolve conflicts with agility, be a confident but pleasant negotiator and keep your sense of humor.
Remember to try to have fun with the work you do and the people you work with, and they will want to work with you again. You can't do it all yourself, so building relationships is key.
The number one quality that successful event managers share? People talents.
2) 2. They are flexible.
Event managers must act as janitors and firefighters. Cleaning up messes and putting out fires, quickly, quietly and efficiently, is part of the job. Stay calm, get it done, then go back to running the show.
3) 3. They are good listeners.
The ability to understand what key stakeholders want from your event is critical. These people may not be in the event industry, so they may not speak the jargon or know what is realistic. You must be able to discern their needs and make sure all parties share the same expectations. Pay attention to what is said, and what is not said, in key conversations. Tapping into these spoken (and unspoken) needs throughout your planning process will help you stay one step ahead.
4) 4. They are organized.
To successfully execute any event, you must be able to juggle about 50 things at once. This multitasking skill is necessary for both smooth planning and flawless execution of an event. The best planners have foolproof systems, step-by-step checklists and handy tech tools . Working in events requires the ability to focus on the big picture while keeping track of all the little details. To avoid burnout, be comfortable delegating some of your more time-consuming tasks. And if things don't go according to plan, don't be afraid to switch to plan "B".
5) 5. They are passionate.
With all the stress of the job, you have to really love what you do. Genuine passion helps you get through the bumps in the road and stay cool when all seems lost. It also leads to bursts of creativity and inspiration to create something great instead of just trying to get through the day. Things like time management can be learned, but passion can't be taught, and you will need it to succeed. Being an event manager can sometimes be a thankless job; it has to be more than a paycheck for you.
Time management can be learned, but passion can't be taught, and you will need it to succeed.
6) 6. They are good communicators.
Clear, firm and kind communication establishes you as a team leader, keeps everyone on track and ensures that the event's goals are clear to everyone involved. It also lets you effectively share your vision and get others excited too. Communicate in a way that is respectful to everyone and doesn't belittle anyone. Accept criticism and be open to new ideas. Everyone plays a role in the success of an event, so make sure you communicate with them in a clear, confident and powerful way.
7) 7. They are calm under pressure.
Your team will look to you for answers on almost everything. In times of stress, the last thing they need is an unsteady leader who makes bad decisions because they crack under pressure. Successful event managers stay balanced and continue to treat everyone with respect, no matter what. Try to stay cool, calm and collected when dealing with other people, even if you have a bundle of nerves inside.
8) 8. They are creative problem solvers.
Whether it's tracking down a bit of emergency duct tape or reworking a keynote presentation at the last minute, you must be resourceful with what you have. No matter how well you plan, something will go wrong. And it will be much easier to tackle if you enjoy finding creative solutions to the challenges that arise.
9) 9. They are decisive.
Event managers must be able to make several decisions at once and make them quickly. And, perhaps most importantly, they must be able to recognize when it is too late to change those decisions, and have the determination to stand by them.
10) 10. They have experience.
It will be much easier for people to trust you if you have plenty of experience. And your job will be easier once you have seen the variety of challenges an event can throw at you. In addition, the experienced manager has a network of trusted professionals to turn to when things get tough. If you don't have much experience yet, don't worry, just give it time!