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Meeting Professionals – Really Magicians!
Posted on July 12, 2018 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.Most people in my profession cringe when asked: “what do you do?” Why? Because the ‘easy’ answer, “I’m a meeting planner” gets the response – “oh, a party planner, what fun!” The more complicated answer “I’m an experience curator” or “I’m a connection facilitator” or “I’m an event professional” get blank stares. How to best […]
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Incorporating You into Your Brand
Posted on June 7, 2018 by Carolyn in Creativity.Are you a brand fan? How can you incorporate those elements into your own business to help you stand out from the pack? I have always had a fascination with Disney – its characters, films and theme parks. The way they seem to intrinsically understand their customer and their ability to create a sense of […]
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Why the Heck Am I Here (at this meeting)?
Posted on February 23, 2018 by Carolyn in Better Communication, Meeting Design.Have you ever attended a meeting/workshop that sounded great and yet when the speakers started talking you wondered why you were there? Well, that was me recently – I had signed up for a seminar about the new tax code and it was marketed to “small business, entrepreneurs and enterprises …” As a small business […]
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Add the Unexpected to your Awards Program
Posted on January 22, 2018 by Carolyn in Creativity, Meeting Design.When you think of awards ceremonies, what comes to mind? Long speeches, an endless procession of winners, interrupting your meal, same old same old? While most of us don’t have the budget for big splashy productions, we can use our creativity to add some unexpected elements to make it fun! Here are examples from […]
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Striving for Continuous Improvement
Posted on January 5, 2018 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.As meeting planners we always ask our attendees to complete evaluations. We ask them how the content was, how they liked the speakers, the food, the venue. That feedback – that data – is important in a strive for continuous improvement. Using Plus/Delta Charts Equally important is to ask your team to evaluate the meeting. Do you […]
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Communication – Giving & Receiving Directions
Posted on November 9, 2017 by Carolyn in Better Communication.If someone asked you how well you follow directions, what would your answer be? Now, if someone asked you how well you give directions – would your answer be the same? Very often what you mean to say and what is interpreted are two different things. Here are two activities that reinforce the importance of […]
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Are your Meetings Welcoming?
Posted on September 26, 2017 by Carolyn in Meeting Design.This summer I got to spend a week in one of my favorite vacation spots – Newport, RI. In our many years visiting the city, I’ve always enjoyed its welcoming spirit and sense of hospitality. In walking around, you can’t help but notice pineapples – as décor inside and outside buildings, on flags, house signs […]
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Communication – the Art of Listening
Posted on July 18, 2017 by Carolyn in Better Communication.Do you have a friend who’s a good listener? Why do you feel that way about him or her? It’s probably because they listen to understand – not listen to respond. There’s a subtle difference and it’s a great skill to have. Recently, I worked with a small board of directors at their annual retreat. […]
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Unexpected Thank Yous
Posted on May 23, 2017 by Carolyn in Giving Thanks.As a meeting planner, it’s standard practice to go through the list of venue staff who worked your meeting and allocate tips as a thank you for those who have gone above and beyond. This is something extra budgeted for as we know that not everyone shares equally (or is included) in the automatic gratuities/service […]
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Career Reinvention – What’s Next?
Posted on March 28, 2017 by Carolyn in Career.Thinking about your future A few years ago, I attended a seminar about changes in the workforce relating to retail and hospitality – two fields that are all about customer service. The panelists talked about looking for candidates with core skills; transferable skills that could be supplemented with training. They also reminded us to keep […]
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Recent Posts
- Meeting Professionals – Really Magicians!
- Incorporating You into Your Brand
- Why the Heck Am I Here (at this meeting)?
- Add the Unexpected to your Awards Program
- Striving for Continuous Improvement
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