I get it. Your job is a stressful one. As a conference host, you are the one who must make sure that everything runs smoothly. Finding a venue, inviting a speaker, managing attendees—all these things fall in your big area of responsibility. With so much on your shoulders, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. As a motivational speaker, I have watched many conference organizers as they did their thing behind the scenes. In this article, I share with you some tips I’ve picked up on how to keep cool, calm, and collected as you run your big event. Read on to learn more about how to de-stress conference hosting.
Start Early
A critical part of hosting a well-planned conference is to start preparations early. Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning. With your conference date in mind, estimate how much time you will need for organizing and set a start date for preparations, adding in some buffer for unforeseen events that can throw off your timeline. Create a detailed schedule, plan out your tasks, and allocate time for each one. There is nothing more stressful than having to deal with a surprise hiccup (and believe me, those come up a lot!)
Delegate Tasks
Delegate to de-stress! If you’re lucky, you probably have an all-star team to help you with the conference. Take some load off your shoulders and empower your people! Match your team member’s skills to the tasks that need to be done and make sure everyone is clear on their deliverables.
Communicate
With so many moving parts in organizing a conference, making sure that everyone is on the same page is necessary for things to go well. Keep everyone in the loop, from speakers to attendees. Ensure everyone has accurate and complete information, and all are aware of any changes or updates. On the flip side, encourage your team to communicate with you, too. You would want to be kept abreast of any issues that come up so you can address them promptly.
Hire an effective speaker
In the world of conferences, your keynote speaker is… well, key. People go to conferences to learn and be inspired. You need a motivational speaker who can connect to the audience and give a compelling speech. As a motivational speaker, I have built my career on teaching people about resilience and overcoming adversity so they can achieve their goals. I share my personal story of how I became the first armless pilot in aviation history and how I dealt with the obstacles to achieving my dreams. If you’re looking for a motivational speaker for your conference, stress no more! Get in touch with me today, and we will make your conference a success.
Do you have stories of seeing stressed out conference organizers? Let me know on Facebook!