As we grow and become super eventprofs, there will always be times where our confidence is shaky. By understanding how to battle confidence killers along the way, you can successfully defeat them!

Being confident is an important aspect to being a successful eventprof. Every once in awhile, though, you may find your confidence slipping. While it is always easier said than done, one of the first steps to regaining that confidence is to recognize what is killing your confidence. If you know what to look for, you can usually pinpoint it to certain scenarios in your life.

While in theory, this seems simple. The reality is that these situations may be difficult to recognize. If they have been happening for a while without you noticing, they may have become habit and part of your normal routine. Take a step back and look at your typical day. Analyze the daily situations, looking for confidence killers. Below are just a few confidence killers for you to look out for.

4. Fear of Failure

   This is a tough one to manage, but if you are able to change your way of thinking, it is possible. Making a mistake does not make you a failure. While we never want to make mistakes, it is important to realize that mistakes and bad decisions do happen. Accept them. Fix them. Learn from them. Move on. Don’t let it happen again. Mistakes and failures should be confidence boosters because you know you will have learned that lesson and won’t ever do it again!
   Sometimes, dealing with micromanagers can also give us a fear of failing. Regardless of how good you actually are at your job, these managers will slowly destroy the confidence you have in yourself. If you are in a micromanagement situation, remember to stay honest, but confident in yourself.

5. Perfectionism

   I have never met an eventprof that did not want to create a perfect event! There does need to be a limit to your perfectionism, though, especially when it gets in the way of production. Start by evaluating your goals. Make sure you have realistic goals, expectations, and time frames. It is also important that you communicate the reasons for those goals to everyone on your team. Unrealistic demands and expectations are always a precursor to failure, and generally do not motivate anyone to work harder.
   Another problem lies when we live by the “all or nothing” rule. If a mistake happens, try to not be too hard on yourself. Even if that one mistake feels like it ruined the entire event, it probably did not. Don’t ignore it, but don’t forget about the things that went well, either. Help your confidence out a bit with at least partial credit for all the other good things you did!

6. Ride Outside Of The Comfort Zone

   While we like to stay in our comfort zone, don’t be afraid to step outside of it and explore new things. The more time you stay isolated in your small comfort zone, the less confident you will become doing other things. Continue learning and expand your comfort zone to as many different areas as possible! While you may be nervous stepping into something new, these new adventures will eventually help build your confidence and help you adapt to change more easily.

In Conclusion

We are all works in progress. While we may have an image of who we are, it is more likely who we want to be – or who we are working on becoming. Trust in yourself, though. Believe in yourself. Remember that a mistake is just a mistake. It does not make you a failure, and should not impact your confidence. Your confidence should grow with each mistake, criticism, or new adventure we come across. Keep moving forward. Most importantly, surround yourself with positive people! This will make it much easier for you to become and stay a more positive and confident person yourself.

Information is powerful. What you know about your attendees’ needs and requirements empowers you to create an all-round successful event. That’s why it’s very important to — at the point of registration — to ask attendees all the right questions.

Get the Basics … Plus
Of course, you want to ask basic information in order to properly register attendees — including attendee profile data, contact information, and hotel accommodation requirements. But if you want to surpass the expectations of attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and presenters, you need to know even more.
Event planners need a deeper understanding of their attendees. With in-depth knowledge captured during registration (as well as leading up to, during, and after the event), planners can optimize each of their events to their audience’s specific needs and create meaningful connections — both among attendees and between attendees and the speakers and exhibitors. To run a successful, memorable event, you need flexible event planning software that enables you to ask the right questions.

Smart Questions Make for Smarter Events
Here are 10 data points to collect from your event attendees during registration. This information will help you fully understand attendees’ expectations — so you can plan to meet those needs, help your exhibitors and presenters deliver on attendees’ expectations, and promote your event.

1. Key event goals.

   Ask your attendees about what “takeaways” they expect from your event. Some may be coming to increase their knowledge, while others may be seeking to expand their professional network. And if you’re putting on a trade show — many may be coming to meet new suppliers. Whatever their reason(s), this information will help you channel your efforts and resources to ensure all attendees benefit from attending your event.

2. Arrival times.

   Knowing when your attendees arrive at your hotel or event venue will help you plan for the right level of check-in staffing to handle peak crowds. Using this information, you can also arrange for buses to pick up crowds of attendees at the airport or to shuttle them from the hotel to the conference venue.

3. Emergency contact information.

   Hopefully, you never have to use this information — but knowing whom to contact if an attendee needs help is invaluable.

4. Disabilities.

   Canadians with Disabilities Act requires companies or organizations that lease space in public facilities for events, conferences, seminars or meetings to ensure those activities are accessible to people with disabilities. Knowing ADA requirements and similar legislation in other areas of the world in advance will help you plan to accommodate their needs.

5. Food allergies.

   The health and safety of your attendees come first! With this information, you can make sure that your hotel and venue take the right precautions when preparing food for attendees with allergies or other eating concerns.

6. Social media “handles.”

   Get this data so you can research what’s being talked about on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn — and refine your social media strategy, push conference information to the right audience, and build excitement before the event (e.g. posting teaser videos from presenters or exhibitors).

7. Session and event preferences.

   Get a clear picture of which receptions your attendees will likely go to — so you can more accurately determine the necessary food and service levels. Ask, too, which scheduled educational sessions they’ll attend and which exhibitors interest them. Then, give your presenters and exhibitors that information — so they can prepare and customize their content/offerings.

8. Payment information.

   Don’t forget to ask about credit card or purchase order information. That way, you’ll be able to collect conference and event fees in a timely, efficient manner. With an automated event platform you can collect payment information securely at the time of reservation — saving you time and reducing errors.

9. Roommate information.

   These days, many organizations are trying to make the most of their meetings travel budgets — including doubling up employees in hotel rooms. You’ll need this information to provide accurate room list information to your event’s hotels.

10. Clothing size.

    Giving away free t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, etc.? You’ll need to know the correct sizes when ordering.

In Conclusion

As an event planner, you want to turn “registrants” into “satisfied attendees” — and hopefully, “returning attendees.” One of the ways you can do that is by getting good information from them — in advance of their arrival at your event. When you’re fully prepared, you’re best equipped to give attendees the excellent event experience they want.

Networking is one of the main reasons people attend your event, meeting, or conference. As event professionals, we want to ensure we are creating a valuable, inclusive experience for everyone to ensure success. Here are 5 steps event planners should take to create a perfect storm for networking success.

Networking is a crucial component to every face-to-face event. In fact, networking is second only to learning in the decision making process for your participants as to whether or not they will attend. For organizations and associations alike, creating a valuable experience with the opportunity for participants to meet new people, share ideas, and build their professional network can carry enormous weight. No matter what stage you are at in the planning process here are some ideas to prime your participants.

Make it FUN!

Playful energy at events always results in happier participants, more positive memories, and an inherently inclusive environment. If you give people the opportunity to have fun – the rest is easy! Try to incorporate activities that participants will want to do and have to do together. A golf game is the gold standard of old-school networking mixed with sport, but if you’re constricted by meeting space and time, there are lots of ways you can inject fun. I have witnessed something as simple as giant board games (think Jenga and Connect Four) scattered across a meeting space transform a room. You can gamify the entire event too; either by forming teams or playing a casual game like a Pub Quiz, or by playing a game with your name badges. One great example is to give each person one half of a famous duo, and then incentivize participants to find their duo (the Robin to their Batman), learn 3 things about each other and report back to registration for a small prize.

Design Sessions to be Collaborative

If your participants are encouraged to practice good networking throughout your program, especially in the educational sessions (the learning time), they will be far more likely get more out of your receptions and evening events (the networking time). Encourage your speakers to build a mini networking component into every one of their sessions. Something as simple as asking participants to get up and introduce themselves to the closest person to them that they don’t know and talk about who they are, what they do, and what they are hoping to get out of the session will make everyone feel more connected. If your speakers ask for a few examples from the group afterwards it will also remind everyone that they are there for a bigger purpose. They are not just there to passively learn, but actively engage with the material and one another.

Make Movement a Priority

The last thing you want at a networking event are a bunch of people clustered together in a tiny space, fighting for a high top table to set down their drink. I think we’ve all been there; once you find a parking spot, that’s it. You’re there all night talking to the same 3 people and before you know it the event is over and you made zero new connections. Of course, choosing an appropriate venue and space for the event is important, but the layout in that space is perhaps even more important. Do you have a bunch of small tables that encourage cliques and bunching, or do you have open lounge-style pods with couches and comfortable chairs? Is the bar right next to the main seating area, or do people need to get up and move across the room for a drink or something to eat? Think about setting up your space so that participants are forced to move throughout the space throughout the event, not just stay in one spot.

Maximize your Marketing Efforts

One of the best ways to make sure your participants are getting the most out of their networking events is to simply make sure the right people are coming to your events. Are you attracting the same group year after year, or do you have a good mix of returning guests and new faces? Are people even attending the networking components, or are they ducking out early? Remind prospective participants about the culture surrounding the organization or association, the objective for the event, and that they are welcome. If you focus on inclusivity and support in your marketing materials people will want to come and take part because engagement is an expectation, not an afterthought. The way you market your event can make all the difference between a group of stressed people in a room thinking of it as more time away from their loved ones for work and an energized, alive group who are just happy for the opportunity to be there.

Listen to your Participants

As with any event, you need to survey your participants afterwards. A common mistake for event professionals is to survey the event in general and not ask specific questions about different elements. Follow up with everyone and get feedback; specifically asking them about the networking aspect. How can you improve if you don’t know what people expected or didn’t expect, liked, or didn’t like? You might even get some great ideas for next time! If appropriate, engage your participants on social media and invite them to continue the conversation and connect online after the event has ended to help solidify those bonds and bring the group together as a community as well.

In Conclusion

Networking is one of the biggest reasons people attend events, but the thought of being in a room full of strangers can create a lot of pressure and stress for your participants. Creating an environment that fosters fun, collaboration and a shared community atmosphere where ideas are valued is the key to a perfect storm of effortless networking. If you design your event with this level of engagement in mind, your participants will naturally interact on the level you want them to, creating the perfect storm.