{"id":4022,"date":"2015-05-20T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T13:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=4022"},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:55:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T17:55:07","slug":"what-are-the-skills-of-a-great-event-planner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/event-planning\/what-are-the-skills-of-a-great-event-planner\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are The Skills Of A Great Event Planner?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image Credit: Film fra S\u00f8r<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Want to print custom t-shirts<\/a> for an upcoming event? <\/i><\/b>Check out our t-shirt maker<\/i><\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

What traits make the difference between good event planners and great ones? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re A Natural Storyteller<\/b><\/h2>\n

One of the most important qualities – at least in the context of the modern event industry – is a flair for storytelling. Social media has changed how consumers and clients interact with businesses. More than ever, they demand that their relationship with a brand be a personal one.<\/p>\n

And one of the best ways to achieve that is through telling a story.<\/p>\n

\u201cCreators have an advantage in the world of the Internet,\u201d writes Launch Podium\u2019s Mike Parsons. \u201cThe best way to stand out among the billions of web pages is to tell your story and be true to your brand, audience, and self. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cBy playing up your natural storytelling skills, you can create powerful and moving content and infuse meaning into your brand as a whole,\u201d he adds, noting that a study at Standford found stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts alone<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But what does that have to do with event planning?<\/p>\n

A great deal, actually. By personalizing your events (and the brand behind them) with a series of well-crafted stories, you can ensure that the experience is far more memorable and enjoyable for attendees. That makes your events more compelling, and makes you a far more attractive choice for prospective clients.<\/p>\n

Your People-Management Skills Are Top Notch<\/b><\/h2>\n

Believe it or not, there\u2019s actually a fairly extensive body of work related to the psychology of event management – such as this piece from Queensland University on role theory and event involvement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In hindsight, that isn\u2019t entirely surprising – when you\u2019re running an event, logistics is only part of the big picture; a great deal of what you\u2019re going to be doing involves people management. You need to be able to communicate effectively with clients, guests, and your events team; you need to be able to listen to and understand the wants and needs of those around you. You need to be able to convey your ideas and negotiate effectively with vendors.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, you need to be capable of dealing with difficult clients and attendees in a fashion that doesn\u2019t make you look foolish<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It sort of goes without saying that in order to do all of this, you need a shining personality coupled with a great deal of emotional intelligence. You also need confidence – I can\u2019t emphasize that last one enough. If you aren\u2019t self-assured, you simply cannot act as a leader, something which is required of you as an event planner.<\/p>\n

You Have Organizational Skills That Would Put Most People To Shame<\/b><\/h2>\n

Even equipped with modern event management tools and platforms, running a successful event requires a head for logistics that most people generally do not have. What I\u2019m saying here is that you need to be insanely <\/b>organized, capable of multitasking, and skilled at time management. If you\u2019re not the sort of person who can successfully juggle several tasks at once – and keep your head on straight in the process – then event management might not be your jam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbove all else, it is imperative that you are an insanely organized person,\u201d reads a post on Careers In Event Planning<\/a>. \u201cIn your professional and your personal life, organization is key. At any given moment on any given day, an event planner is juggling a number of completely different projects.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to understand, create, and stick to time limits and deadlines,\u201d it continues.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re Passionate About What You Do – Sometimes To A Fault<\/b><\/h2>\n

Here\u2019s the thing about enthusiasm: \u00a0it tends to be infectious. If you\u2019re passionate and cheerful about your job – if it\u2019s clear that you love what you do – then the people you work with are going to pick up on that. They\u2019ll end up being better at their own jobs as a result.<\/p>\n

Not only that, it makes it significantly easier to come up with fresh, creative, and exciting ideas for your events – again, something that\u2019s necessary for success.<\/p>\n

\u201cA successful event manager needs to be enthusiastic and passionate about what they do,\u201d explains independent services professional Chris Catoggio to The Event Manager Blog. \u201cEnthusiasm and passion brings about creativity and generates excitement.\u201d<\/p>\n

You Know How To Thrive Under Pressure<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no secret that event management is an incredibly high-octane career – it was, after all, listed as one of 2014\u2019s top five most stressful jobs<\/a>. It thus sort of goes without saying that you need to go in equipped with the capacity to manage that stress. If you don\u2019t, you\u2019re probably going to end up getting burnt out.<\/p>\n

The Institute of Event Management recommends you do the following<\/a>:<\/p>\n