As an event planner, it’s your main responsibility to maintain as organized as possible while planning some of the most important occasions of your client’s lives. While multi-tasking may come as second nature, it’s never bad to revisit some of the ways in which you can improve your time management. With event season ramping up, we thought it would be helpful to provide a refresher on time management for those in the biz. Keep reading for tips on how to best manage your time as an event planner.
Stick to a Schedule
As an event planner, you must maximize your time the best you can. Because there are only so many hours in a day, this means sticking to a pretty strict schedule. Whether it’s a New Year’s Eve party or helping a couple plan their intimate wedding, the event you’re planning will require 100% of your focus and dedication. After you’ve met with your client, sit down and map out the steps it will take to plan their event from start to finish, including even the most minute of details. This is also a great time to figure out what other vendors you may have to work with as they’re likely to have their own schedule. Maybe your client has asked you to arrange for a transportation company to bring their guests to and from the event or an online decor company that specializes in the latest trends. Scheduling out time to contact these vendors and make a plan is a necessary step in ensuring that the event goes off without a hitch.
Utilize Technology
These days, we have so many time management resources at our disposal. Technology has come such a long way and allows us to complete everyday tasks without actually having to be physically present. While you’re in the thick of planning an event, the last thing you need is an interruption. The good news is, errands such as making a deposit at the bank or grabbing lunch for your office can be completed via mobile apps. Why wait in a long line when you can utilize a mobile banking app to manage your business finances or order your favorite sushi via a food delivery service right on your phone? Although technology is often viewed as a distraction, as an event planner, you can truly take advantage of the fact that it allows you to continue working hard for your clients and minimizes your time spent focusing on tasks that can be completed with the click of a button.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
One of the worst mistakes you can make when it comes to time management is biting off more than you can chew. In the event planning business, this tends to happen as you have an innate desire to people-please. Learning to say no to things that may take away from high priority items on your list will save you from imminent stress in the long run. Although taking on too much is sometimes unavoidable, you must learn to draw a line in the sand when it comes to what you agree to. Stretching yourself too thin can result in physical and mental exhaustion as well as a poorly-planned event, which ultimately results in an unsatisfied customer and can be damaging to your business’s reputation. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and remember that good time management skills do not mean saying yes to everything and everyone at the same time, but instead being cognizant of your capacity and what you can accomplish efficiently.
With the busy event season just around the corner, keeping these time management tips in mind will be crucial. Or, if these tips don’t align with your current organization, don’t be afraid to branch out and start your own event planning business. It’s important that you feel motivated to make each event magical, and fulfilled in your long-term career, so take matters into your own hands! Starting your own event planning business can help build your confidence and ultimately allow you to be the best event planner you can be!