Copyright 2006 Erika TrimbleAre you living your life controlled by the tyranny of the
urgent?
The work of event and meeting planners may be considered
either stressful or energizing, depending on how well you
handle the fast paced and demanding environment of these
industries.
In my research, I found that some of the biggest stress
factors in any event and meeting planner?s job include:
* Juggling workload
* Saying ?no? when too many programs are going on at a time
* Clients leaving things to the last minute
* Suppliers responding in a timely fashion
* Balancing one client over another
* Finding staff resources at the last minute
* Managing clients expectations
* Needing more time!
In my work as a business coach and entrepreneur, I
discovered the nine most common stress relievers, which can
be effectively used to create a balanced and more enjoyable
life for event and meeting planners.
1. Relieve stress with exercise. I now imagine you saying
you just don?t have the time to fit it in. Bear with me
here.
Let?s look at a specific example you can relate to. The
first thing most planners do when presented with a new
proposal is break it down into different components and
create timelines for each component. You can do the same
for this stress relieving strategy ? create time for
exercise and build it into your weekly schedule. One way
some planners do this is enroll in a class at a defined
time, while other planners calendar in their fitness each
week along with their other commitments.
You will have more energy, a brighter mind, and more
creative problem solving.
2. Take breaks to think and take stock of your situation.
When you do this you will be able to assess what is truly
critical in the moment and reorient yourself to
concentrating your energy where you are most effective. As
planners you will always have multiple and minute details
to consider in creating the perfect event or meeting.
Rather than just getting through what is directly in front
of you, take the time to manage your time.
3. Take small periods of silence and solitude during the
day, especially when you feel overwhelmed with problems and
responsibilities. Feeling overwhelmed is not an uncommon
feeling for planners. When you take even five minutes of
solitude at such times, you will be amazed how your ideas
flow and how the answers to your questions pop up.
4. Develop a long term perspective by taking the future
into consideration with every decision you make in the
present. Then do more things that have greater long-term
value to you and your business. Whether you are a planner
working for a company or own your own business, your daily
priorities are the same: move the company forward, increase
profitability, build strong relationships, attract new
customers, and bring value and good service to existing
clients.
5. Manage unexpected demands. I recognize that it is not
always possible to organize your work to minimize surprises
and problems as a planner, in spite of your best efforts.
You can control your response to an unexpected demand by
determining how you will accommodate it, and when you will
accommodate it. Sometimes clients simply want to know they
have been heard and their request will be taken care of.
6. Become a student of time management. Take tips from the
time management guru?s on how to increase your
consciousness about your habits, and develop the skills to
better manage yourself. Commitment to time management is a
commitment to being more successful.
7. Take charge ? everything you are, or ever will be, is
entirely up to you. While there will always be days in the
life of a planner when it may be necessary to work long
hours to meet a time crunch, these times ought to be the
exception rather than the rule. If you find yourself always
racing to meet deadlines, it is a clear sign that you need
to look at how you are managing your activities and your
time.
8. Simplify by asking yourself several times in a day how
you can simplify a situation or make your day easier. We
tend to see things in the most complex way, and you?ll be
surprised at the power in thinking of ways to make your
life easier.
9. Remember how you want to be perceived personally and
professionally. Is this as a frantic, chaotic person, or
someone in charge who is a great problem-solver? Your
coworkers, industry peers, suppliers, and clients can, and
will, hold you accountable for how you spend your time.
As simple as these strategies for stress management are,
they are truly remarkable in their results.
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The Event and Meeting Planners Business Association was
founded by Erika Trimble, business coach and entrepreneur.
Her mission for the Association is to create profitable,
rewarding, and winning business outcomes for event and
meeting planners. Get a copy of Erika?s FREE special
report ?5 Secrets of Highly Effective Event and Meeting
Planners? at http://www.eventplannersbusinessassociation.com
