For tens of thousands of years, books have remained the world’s leading source of education, self-improvement and professional development. Moving into 2016, the only thing that’s changed has been the format that our books are delivered in (for the first time in history, books are available in both physical and digital formats, making them more easily accessible than ever). And it’s no coincidence that the most successful, intelligent people on the planet also happen to be the world’s biggest bookworms.
The lesson is simple – if you want to get ahead of your competition, out-read them.
But with thousands of choices available, what books are the best reads for event managers? This is a list of the top 5 books every event planner must read.
Marketing Your Event Planning Business
A Creative Approach to Gaining the Competitive Edge
by Judy Allen
The author is among the world’s most prominent authorities in event management, staging and lifestyle design. And this book is her magnum opus of real world advice on how to best market your event management business. Over 260 pages, you will uncover winning strategies with actionable advice on pursuing new markets, soliciting sales, development your clients base in various niches, improving customer serving and more.
Switch
How to Change Things When Change is Hard
by Dan and Chip Heath
Switch is a handbook on the psychology of influencing behaviour. Within its pages are compelling stories of how everyday people have managed to achieve dramatic results in their personal lives by utilising the concepts of psychology to change their destinies. As an event planner, you can use these same principles to positively influence audience behaviour through winning engagement – and take the popularity of your events to the next level.
Into The Heart of Meetings
Basic Principles of Meeting Design
by Eric de Groot & Mike van der Vijver
This book is a godsend to event planners who specialise in corporate meetings. Learn how to transform standard, ho hum meetings into dynamic events that deliver maximised results for your clients.
Mike van der Vijer delivers advice and concepts developed over his 20 years of experience in the industry as a consultant, trainer, facilitator and meeting designer.
The Accidental Creative
How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice
by Todd Henry
If you’re consistently “stuck” and looking for innovative ways to spice up your event’s marketing, creatives or on-site activities, this is the book for you. The subtitle of this book says it all, “How to be brilliant at a moment’s notice” distils the creative process into easily understandable components. Sit tight as the author details how to unleash your creative abilities at will, in all areas of your personal and professional life.
Be Our Guest
Perfecting the Art of Customer Service
by Theodore Kinni
Take a peek behind the scenes of the world’s foremost authority on customer service, Disney. Over the past 25 years, professionals from over 35 countries and 4 dozen industries have graduated from business programs at the world-renowned Disney Institute – and you can too, with the lessons entailed in this book. The success of your events management business is directly related to your ability to deliver world-class customer service, so why not learn from the very best?
Didier Moulin is MD of PowerVote
