-
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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. […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
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 […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
Let It Go!
Posted on January 27, 2017 by Carolyn in Just Because.No, I’m not going to break into the song from Frozen (though it is going through my mind as I type) – I wanted to tell a story about how I felt after letting a project go. I was about four months into a project that had been on my “to do” list for over […]
No Comments. Continue Reading... -
Meeting Apps – Engaging or Annoying?
Posted on December 2, 2016 by Carolyn in Meeting Design, Networking.Recently, I attended two conferences (seems like I say that a lot, but it’s true). Both were in the hospitality industry and both used a meeting app. In my non-technical opinion (as an attendee and a user of both apps), one was infinitely more successful and engaging. I won’t tell you what platforms were used […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Welcome!
Recent Posts
- Why the Heck Am I Here (at this meeting)?
- Add the Unexpected to your Awards Program
- Striving for Continuous Improvement
- Communication – Giving & Receiving Directions
- Are your Meetings Welcoming?
Categories
- Better Communication
- Career
- CMP Test Prep
- Continuing Education
- Creativity
- Facilitation
- Getting Away
- Giving Thanks
- Just Because
- Leadership
- Meeting Design
- Meeting Manners
- Networking
- RFPs
- Risk Management
- Teamwork
- Volunteerism
