The events industry has shifted due to the course of the last few years. Event managers need to be equipped to manage not only in-person, but hybrid and virtual events. Here are 15 skills event planners need in order to be successful:
1. Interpersonal Know-How
Event planners are in the people business. Interpersonal skills are essential regardless of your event type: in-person, virtual or hybrid.
2. Technology Skills
Knowing how to utilize technology is an inherent part of the events process. While event planners may not need to be expert coders, technological proficiency is one of the most crucial skills needed in event management.
3. Ability to be a Leader
Event planners need to be able to take charge at any point during a show. While they may delegate tasks, if the event isn’t running smoothly, the event planner needs to be ready to take responsibility to drive a successful event.
4. Teamwork
Experienced event planners understand that an event’s success doesn’t rest on one team member’s shoulders. Event organizers need to be willing to partner with not only team members but event staff in order to achieve their goals.
5. Research Skills
Event planners need to be able to lean on investigative knowledge to ensure they are following event-related rules. While Google searches can cover most ground, analysis skills also lie in sorting through available data to find the most relevant information. Event planners with solid research skills will be able to stay in-the-know about last-minute event changes.
6. Keep Calm and Carry On
Planning is an essential part of the job—it’s in the title, after all! While event planners cannot possibly predict everything that may go wrong during an event, the ability to keep calm under pressure is paramount.
7. Perseverance
Event planning is a career path that is filled with hurdles, and motivation can be hard to come by. Successful event planners can persevere through hardships to manage a conference or trade show.
8. Accepts Constructive Criticism
Constructive feedback from event staff and anyone else involved with the project is invaluable compared to self assessments. Good event planners can retain feedback and use insights to become better at their jobs.
9. Ability to Have Challenging Conversations
Since the event planner is responsible for putting on a successful event for everyone involved, event planners need to be skilled to effectively navigate difficult conversations which can often arise during the planning process.
10. Flexibility
The ability to adapt is part and parcel of staying calm under pressure. Events do not always go to plan which may require a change in plans, even at the last minute.
11. Attention to Detail
Good event planners are detail-oriented. Leaving less items to chance ensures that when it’s time for the show to start, fewer items will need to be managed.
12. Organization
Organizational skills are critical for not only event planners, but the entire event planning team. Project management is a skill event planners need to pull off engaging events for their audience.
13. Delegation Techniques
While event planners certainly like to have everything under control, it is important to know how to delegate tasks—and to trust a team with the responsibility to carry them through.
14. Effective Use of Time
Time management is one of the most crucial skills needed to be a successful event planner. Prioritization and task management are essential, and successful event organizers often rely on organizational techniques like reminders and maintaining a tight schedule.
15. Strives for Perfection
While events rarely go off without a hitch, event planners often strive for perfection. Though mishaps can occur, events can still be considered a success with proper planning.