Why it is important to have soft skills in event planning industry
- 1. Business organizations such as event management and planning industry require individuals with distinct qualities. Event management and planning is an exciting career option because of the involved challenges and it could be very rewarding for those having exceptional skills. There are evolving skills needed for an even industry and it becomes mandatory to incorporate those in one’s personality to become a successful event planner. Interactions with some of the veterans in the event industry have suggested that possessing soft skills is of prime importance for students wishing to make a career in event management companies. Soft skills constitute all those attributes that enhance an individual’s interaction with the people. These are significantly reflected in the personality, behaviour, listening skills and social etiquette of a person. These can often be termed as ‘interpersonal skills’ which is the ability of an individual to work with business organizations through better communications and interaction. Soft skill set is a core element essential to advance in an event planning career. If an individual is good at expressing ideas and relating to them he can thrive in this market. Research conducted by Harvard University states that 85% of job opportunities come from having a well developed soft skill set. A brilliant way to understand soft skill is to know how you approach the people you are meeting or working with. Excellent communication skills and high etiquette level will give a nice impression of yours to the third party. Every successful business organisations would want to hire those professionals who add more value to their business. They seek individuals who are well organised, experienced and goal oriented. It becomes mandatory for all those lacking such skills to invest time to improve their soft skills which will ultimately enhance their career. Here are the top qualities to work upon for those individuals who wish to evolve as a professional event planner/manager. Working in a highly organized way- A successful event planner will always choose the best- organized path to execute the idea of the client. They need to multitask and coordinate various responsibilities along with handling the team. While being organized the client’s goal must active in the minds of a planner so that try goal is properly understood and accomplished. Keen Listener and a good persuader- A good event planner always try to grab as much information from the client as he could. Rather than imposing ideas, a professional event planner will understand the client’s view by asking about ideas. This could be done only when a person listens to every detail mentioned by the client carefully. It is highly essential to follow the plan demonstrated by the client to make sure that the purpose of the event is well served. Be optimistic- Event planning is all about meeting deadlines and often turn out to be stressful. A perfect event planner avoids fretting at such situations by being positive. This is the quality that is essential to bring enthusiasm and zeal in the entire team to motivate them to build better planning. Problem- solving skills- Adapting to the unexpected setbacks and plan failure becomes highly important in an event planning industry which is always driven by unpredictable situations. A good planner should utilize the setbacks to find a better solution.
- 2. Manage the time efficiently- An individual should work in a well-synchronized manner for effective utilisation of time. Every module of the project must be distributed time according to the requirement and proper understanding. Good time management will help to complete things at the right time. Team Work- Understanding that good teamwork leads to best outcomes is quite essential in event planning. Individuals who are communicative create better interactions among groups which helps in quick executions of the plans. Along with good interactions skills a person must have a great sense of humour to keep the environment of the workplace friendly. Respecting everyone working around is a quality of a good professional. Fffective teamwork helps to coordinate with others in the workplace. Flexibility- The ability to deal with the last minute changes is crucial to prevent stress. Being flexible to incorporate changes is an essential quality of a good event planner. Ability to embrace the changes and adopt new strategies will make an event professional highly flexible. Creativity- Creativity will always woo people witnessing the event. Stay updated with the latest trends in the planning industry by googling. Bring innovative ideas to come alive and see the mindboggling response by the client. Passionate- Passion driven individuals are the first choice of the recruiter of event organizations. Find passion in what you do and it will help you to achieve every success. Conclusion- Event management and planning could be very rewarding if a person has the essential soft skills. This industry is always on the move and brings exciting career opportunities and if one wishes to thrive in this blooming industry he/she should start focusing to develop the skills right away. As Event Management is a way to implement your managerial skills it needs a strong skill set. Identifying the demands of the audience, creating the theme, communicating with the client and team, identifying the problems and taking preventive actions and managing event together bring huge challenges for any individual working as event manager. A surge in events has given this industry a jolting boom to it and there is a high demand for smart and reliable event managers globally. Practising to develop the soft skills will overall improve the chances to get a successful career in the event industry. One can gauge the importance of these skills in event planning career by the fact that several universities have started offering courses especially focused to develop soft skills in young individuals aspiring to see themselves as event planners/managers. These courses are designed to improve communication skills, interpersonal skills, team building skills, and leadership skills. In order to communicate well individuals also need to focus on their speaking skills. Being able to communicate with international clients and business partner requires command over the
- 3. languange you speak. As English is universally adopted language for communications candidates aquiring good english are in high demand in the event industry as event planning process requires effective communications with a variety of people. Developing strong interpersonal skills depends on how well you can interact with the clients and the team.