As a busy year of events draws to a close, and your colleagues and clients start to turn on their Out of Offices, how can you use some “quiet time” to get ahead for 2020 before you head off for the holidays?
Here are some of our suggestions:
- Reflect on your year. What did it look like? Compile some key stats to create yourself a benchmark for next year. Look back at your budgets and see where you could perhaps shave off some costs, or bring in new sales, from your next events.
- Read through the feedback you’ve received. The feedback you’ve collected through the year from delegates, sponsors and even your own debrief notes, will carry some key insights into what you can do to improve. Take note of good content ideas to help you produce a winning programme and suggestions for ways you could enhance your sponsors’ ROI.
- Do some research. What did your competitors do well in 2019? How could you innovate your events or streamline your processes to make them even better next year?
- Say thank you. Send your key clients (including any prospective clients) a little something to show you value your relationship. Put some thought into it: is there something you’ve heard them mention they like during your time working together? Don’t forget to thank your key suppliers – perhaps you can’t stretch to a gift – but sending a card or picking up the phone to wish them a Merry Christmas could earn you some favourable rates next time you use their services!
- Have a good clear out. You can accumulate a whole load of ‘stuff’ when traveling and working onsite at events. Now is the prime time to get rid of old paperwork that has been cluttering up the office so that you can come back to a tidy desk. Whilst you’re at it, do some digital decluttering: file, archive or delete those many lists and drafts you created during the life cycle of your event. Tidying up your files into obvious folders will speed everyone up when looking back at event files.
- Get festive! Now is a great time for some team bonding, so bring in some festive treats to share, decorate the office, and spend some time socialising with your colleagues.
Finally, once it’s time for you to head out the door, let everyone know when the office is due to reopen in your Out of Office, and leave yourself a list of the priority tasks you want to get done in your first week back, to help yourself be immediately productive in the new year.
Thanks to everyone we’ve worked with in 2019, check out our Twitter page for some highlights: @EMS_EventMgt