How do you plan the details so that nothing is forgotten during one of your events? You need more than a to do list and a great memory. You need the ability to ignore the “non essential time sensitive” stuff for as long as it takes to focus on the “essential non time sensitive” stuff. All sound familiar? It should, as Steven Covey says it in the third habit “Put First Things First”.
In the world of conference, event and association management, focusing on the “essential non time sensitive” stuff means taking the time to prepare a timeline outlining what needs to get done when and by whom as your first step. Your timeline is working document evolving all the time that doesn’t sit in a file somewhere. It is referred to on a weekly basis and is the source from which more detailed plans are created for the various areas of responsibility like sponsorship, marketing plan, registration, production and onsite management. And because no one person is an octopus, you surround yourself with an amazing team empowered to have ownership in their area of expertise. Regular team meetings reviewing the timeline, what needs to be changed, added and done next ensures everyone is on the same page and going in the same direction. So, when event day comes, you are bored with very little to do!