I read a blog today that suggested that the best Event Managers are born to be event managers and come with ten key traits or qualities that have them stand out from those around them that are simply ok. Apparently if I have these ten key traits I'm literally born to do the job I do and I will be amazing at it. Most people that meet me and haven’t attended an event I've run just assume I'm a control freak!
What do you think? Do I tick all the boxes?… Take a look at the list – I've added my own comments in italics.
1. Great Interpersonal Skills
You have to work with a team and other people in order to ensure the event is a success. So you should have the ability to tell and listen without any issues.
Developing interpersonal skills is a necessity, but some people are born with these skills. Such people are able to manage their team or communicate effectively and it is these people who often make great event managers.
TICK!…I was brought up in pubs! Not in a skanky way like a child whose parents spend all their dole money in the local – my parents managed pubs so you couldn’t be shy or timid, you had be sociable and give as good as you got to the cheeky punters! That’s where my social skills came in, I learnt to take the mickey out of myself as well as other too – but in a friendly way.
2. Flexibility
Nothing is fixed when organizing events. Things can change at a drop of a hat. Hence, an event manager should be flexible to take these changes in stride and work accordingly. You need to be ready to face any sort of situation and be able to think on your feet.
TICK! I’ve worked some ridiculous hours, but when you own an event and are recognised as that organiser to the attendees you really don’t mind putting that effort in. It all adds to your CV, recommendations and referral capabilities.
When it comes to facing situations – our “Steele” family motto is based around not getting stressed out, when I’d tell my Dad that something went wrong in the past he would say “Nobody died though did they?”. This puts everything into context and in the grand scheme of things, death is always the worst case scenario – everything else is fixable and if you focus on the fix, you’re set – the blame can come later if you’re that way inclined but I'm not, you learnt from your mistakes and cock-ups.
3. Energetic
Events are extremely demanding and if you want to host a successful one, you should be full of energy and passion. Do you love to deal with every challenges with zest and passion? If so, you are born an event manager without a doubt!
TICK! I enjoy what I do, it might annoy me sometimes but I manage an event with a smile on my face – I know what it’s like to feel stressed and I don’t want people in my team feeling like that during a live event, everyone should enjoy working on it so if I’ve got a smile and I'm cracking jokes at the same time as pulling an event off, everyone else remains calm and trusts that I'm in control
4. Creative and Innovative
To be a successful event manager, you need to do things differently. This requires innovation and creativity. If you are the kind of person who always thinks out-of-the-box, you are destined to be a successful event manager. This means that problems and challenges are not an issue for you, as you have an innate ability to resolve them creatively.
This is a hard one, it’s not easy to think outside of the box when the client or your boss still thinks that event ideas from the 90s are current because they haven’t done them before! Thinking outside of the box is different in each business – a bake sale could be creative for one business, whereas taking staff to a local cinema to communicate an update on the business is the same for another.
Understanding what is creative, innovative and out of the box for each client is what’s important as if you go too far out for them you’ll scare them off because they won’t be able to visualise what you’re offering. I’ve developed new ideas for a number of events that have improved the experience for the attendee – that’s what’s important,
5. Keen Eye for Details
It is the small things that matter. Do you always delve into things and look at minute details and try to get everything right? Your keen sense of observation will prevent small things from blowing up and turning into big issues. Attention to detail allows you to ensure that everything is properly organized and in place for the event.
CHECK! Theming is a great example of having an eye for detail – I went to a showcase event once at a venue and they had themed the event to Vegas. I knew exactly what I was going to get and could tick it all off again now… Showgirls entrance, table centres with tall feathers an Elvis Impersonator and some cardboard banner type things – it was crap! To truly theme a room you should be thinking about lighting, flooring, table dressing, your surrounds, the catering, the entertainment – you need a large visual impact, you’re supposed to feel like you are in a specific era, location, city etc. I hate themed events – they’re rarely what they should be because the costs are allocated incorrectly.
6. Good Time Management Skills
Your multitasking abilities are an indication that you are tailor-made to be an event manager. You have the ability to prioritize things at work and this allows you to be more productive and achieve more within a limited time period.
CHECK! Nuff said.
7. Passionate and Enthusiastic
This is an inherent quality and people are often born with this quality. It is only then they can excel in their chosen line of work. As a successful event manager, you have to have passion and this is what allows you to be productive and overcome obstacles that you face while organizing events.
CHECK! I don’t think you could handle event management without passion, enthusiasm and drive within the industry!
8. Leadership Skills
Leaders are born and not made. This is an old saying and it is true for event managers as well. You have an innate quality for leading people and this is what shows that you were born to be an event manager. Your outstanding leadership skills help guide your team towards the end goal and that is why your events are a roaring success.
CHECK: I lead by example, if you make a mistake – learn from it, if you don’t learn from it then ill be having a word. The same rules apply – so long as nobody has died we can fix any mistake together. No question is a stupid question and if you’re a grafter we’ll get along fine. I’ve developed admin assistants up to Event Coordinators in two companies now, taking them from data entry to small event management and even AV scripting.
9. Superior Organizational Skills
Everything in an event has to be seamlessly choreographed, so that each step of the event goes off smoothly. However, organizational skills can be learned, but mastering them is difficult if you are not born with them. So with your superior and exceptional organizational skills, one can easily say that you were born to be an event manager.
CHECK! I’m organised with my work, less so at home – but that’s because I allow myself to be lazy at home!
10. Tech Savvy
Event management has changed tremendously with the availability of technology, so you should be well-versed in using it. Today, event managers have access to a wide range of event management software, such as event ticketing software, venue management software and more that makes their work easier.
CHECK! There’s loads of tech out there now, I’m aware of a lot of it but some of it is duplicated. When looking for tech I'd always advise going for recommendations and asking around initially – you don’t need to be trained in high detail on everything that’s out there, you don’t have the time!
Apparently … If you possess these qualities, it is an indication that you were born to be an event manager. These qualities mean you are tailor-made for this great profession. So, jump into event management with enthusiasm and you’ll soon carve a place for yourself in the industry.
So am I born to be an Event Manager? Are you?
Written by Amanda Morris
Events Director, JustWatchEvents
7th March 2014
