Leadership in Event Management

"Event Management and Life have a lot in common."

A decade or two ago, we Gen Xs were trying to decipher life and this so-called profession called Event Management, on the go. But now both I meant "Life" in general, and the domain in conversation have enough handbooks available.

Today I was sitting and pondering, trying to introspect my journey of 13 plus years as an entrepreneur and in a self-taught profession.

This profession, until very recently, was given very little due. With no structured curriculum or set skillset requirement, an unorganized sector was seen as no man's land or an odd job.

Let's see what an Entrepreneur in the Event Management space brings to the professional world. Summing up their work in one caption would be

"Holistic Approach to their Work."

Let me elaborate a bit on this how:

Even the most minor event requires planning and preparation, which includes defining the event objectives, determining the target audience, budgeting, selecting a venue, and developing a timeline.

In some cases, it also involves developing a marketing plan to reach your target audience, promoting the event through various channels, and using social media to generate interest.

Then comes logistics and operations in play, where one is expected to oversee all aspects of the event, such as setting up the venue and arranging transportation, catering, and audio-visual equipment.

Every event is an amalgam of bringing all the departments together under one roof, and the leader's performance depends on every single's caliber, talent, and execution. One person's failure can have a domino effect on every other aspect making the leader responsible.

This is the only profession where you are judged on every other person's capabilities. So stakeholder management, building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders, including sponsors, vendors, attendees, and government agencies, becomes very critical.

Holding the fort together with all these stakeholders makes the Entrepreneur an expert in risk management. And they are trained to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans to minimize the impact.

This has to be achieved in a specified budget that ensures the client gets value for money and the Entrepreneur justifies their work put in with reasonable profit.

And the story doesn't end here; every event has scope for improvement according to the client, making customer feedback and assessments very critical.

Now if we were, to sum up, and bucket this profession, often seen as an odd job - in corporate/ management terms:

1. Strategic thinking: By taking a strategic view of their role, event manager entrepreneurs can understand the big picture, identify opportunities, and make decisions that benefit the organization.

2. Collaboration: Event manager entrepreneurs who can work effectively with others bring together different perspectives and ideas to develop more comprehensive and practical solutions.

3. Flexibility and adaptability: A holistic approach requires a willingness to be flexible and adaptable and to consider new ideas and techniques.

4. Customer focus: By putting the needs and wants of customers at the center of their work, event manager entrepreneurs can create more value for their organization and stakeholders.

5. Empathy: Event manager entrepreneurs who are empathetic and understand the perspectives of others are better equipped to build strong relationships and make informed decisions that consider the impact on all stakeholders.

6. Continuous improvement: A holistic approach to work involves a commitment to constant learning and improvement and a willingness to embrace new ideas and technologies.

It's time to change how we view this profession and its leaders ultimately.