More than a Meeting Planner - I am a Leader

Am I more than a meeting planner?
I’m just the planner. How many times have you said that, or heard a colleague or team mate say that? We often hear, remove the words should and can’t’ from your vocabulary. Now is the time to also remove the phrase “just a meeting planner” from your repertoire. Meeting planners, now meeting professionals are leaders and if you don’t think you are ask yourself these questions:
Do I create a vision for my part of the organization? Do I communicate that vision to partners, suppliers, vendors, attendees? Do I move people to action? Do I create change?
Is this not by definition what a leader does?
• Leaders are visionaries
• Leaders communicate
• Leaders move people to action
• Leaders are change agents
As our economy emerges from recession, US News names meeting planning one of the top 50 best jobs. Now is the time to find our leadership voices and demonstrate our value. Forbes Magazine and the Business Journals nationwide are distributing our content.
Take the time now to get your facts on our industry and your ROI. Read the MPI bi-monthly Business Barometer, and FutureWatch 2010. A mentor, friend or leadership coach can help you to script your conversations with your C-suite to drive your professionalism and help us elevate the industry. Recently I shared international facts and figures at the MPI Oregon/BRAVO Tradeshow, and at the conclusion several planners came up to me and said ”thanks for helping me script my influence to my boss.” Leaders are not afraid of the numbers.
If you find yourself standing in the background in your organization now is the time to build your script, find your voice, be fearless and claim your seat at the leadership table.