Step 1: Assemble Your Planning Team – Advanced Planning Services

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So you think it’s you alone against the world as you plan your meeting or event. THAT’S NOT TRUE.

The most successful event planning starts with a great team. So the first thing you need to do is to assemble your planning team. Remember that this is a working team that is largely responsible for the day-to-day planning, organizing and management of the event.

So, how do you get started?

Tolu Bamwo

Consider the skills you will need on your team.
- Will you be raising money for your organization or cause? Then you need someone with “real” fundraising skills and a great network of community leaders and friends.
- Will you be working with a hotel or meeting space? Then you need someone with good logistics skills.
- Will you need volunteers? You guessed it, look for someone who has contacts in the community and that has scheduled and managed volunteers.
- Be sure to include someone that can help market your event.
- Will you need someone that can handle the finances?
- And don’t forget to include the person that can answer all the technical questions.
Look for people that are hard workers, know the organization, represent the stakeholders and work well together.
These need to be real “worker bees” and not the folks that just want their names on the program.
Decide how many folks you want on your team.
In most cases, smaller is better. Try starting with between 5-7 people.
And if you don’t really have the time or still feel a little overwhelmed...
You may want to hire an outside consultant to manage all or part of the planning process. They can work on their own or work with your planning team.

So, whether you assemble your own team, hire a consultant or use a combination of the two, assembling the right people with the right skills and the right commitment to your organization can make all the difference in the success of your meeting or event.