Through The Planners Lens

by Sean Schuette, CMP

• Hearing new ideas can be a form of cross-training.
• “Everyone wins when a leader gets better.”
• Re-calibrating your flow while remaining open for growth.

I am a firm believer in ongoing development, both professionally with my career in the meetings industry as well as personally as an individual. I do my best to attend the annual Global Leadership Summit and a quote stuck with me from a session, stating “Everyone wins when a leader gets better.” The meetings industry is ever evolving as we are doing things within a world that is changing by the day, and sometimes even by the minute. After 17 years in the industry I have created processes to handle changes as they come. In the past few months I have had to re-examine some of my tried and true methods. This process has benefited me both professionally and personally, and I believe I have gotten “better.”

When it comes to the details of a program, I love making sure all is in line like a store just before grand opening. I know that the sense of calm (and I will admit: a little control) from knowing a plan is in place helps me walk confidently into the wonders and hurdles of a live event. I also know that if things start to unravel a little too fast I too can feel like I am unraveling. A year ago, I would often get upset, question the plan in place, and hold some anger in me. Through my re-calibrating, I now look at the work as a whole and in the end the result is still often a strong one. I have built processes, have back-up plans, and have adjusted to “not sweat the small stuff” but rather be ever-learning. It has helped me see my previous stress, before and during an event, through a different lens.
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I’ve had the chance to have co-workers come along to events that either haven’t been onsite with me or they haven’t had the chance to work onsite with me for some time. Having a fresh perspective on the processes and hearing new ideas is a refreshing new form of cross-training, in a way you are helping each other and actively reaching the end goal of efficiency and high outcome. I have garnered two to three ideas from these interactions that I will be looking forward to trying as I enter the mid-part of this year. A year ago, the old Sean would have let ideas go in one ear and out the other simply because of the simple (and sometimes shortsighted adage) of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” To get too laser-focused on things is to not be flexible, to fixate on one process causes you to not be open to at least trying one new thing, and that’s honestly quite stupid.

The biggest thing I have grown in, and through, is how I approach each day and its to-do list. I realize I have a fairly extensive list, sometimes 10-12 items, of things that need to get done; the priority ladder changes all the time, and depending on my day I may cross almost all or close to none of them off. As unexpected things come my way, the old Sean would have skirted close to slipping into overwhelm as additions and interruptions continue to pile on. I want to get things done quickly and efficiently and in the past I could let my head spin out of control a bit too easy. Taking the simple and time honored approach of tackling one thing at a time really makes for a better means to completing tasks. It also allows me to step away from my desk at the end of the day and realize I have done what I could for that day, and embrace truly that tomorrow is another day.
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The greatest growth I’ve had is reminding myself I am not alone in working and walking this world of the meetings industry. I have a wide network of friends and peers that are there to lend a hand whether through a listening ear, a new idea, or to help me in a pinch. I have co-workers that I might see as too busy to bother with my requests for help or a new perspective on things, whereas, they are more often than not, willing to assist. I also have a tool belt of 17 years of experiences, options, processes, and a few hard knocks to pull from. When I want to slip into the old Sean ways of overwhelm and frustration, I just need to pause, reflect, and step back. I challenge all of us to continue to be open and to examine our means of navigating the work of this industry through being humble and open to learning and leading. Everyone benefits when you get ‘better’ and as the journey continues so does our ongoing development.

Sean brings more than 17 years of experience in planning tradeshows, conferences, and events, some with attendance as high as 15,000 people. Sean is committed to ongoing involvement and professional development within the meetings industry. He has been involved with MPI MN since 2001, serving five years on the Education Committee, three years on the Strategic Alliances committee, and two years on the Emerging Leaders committee. He served on the Board of Directors as the Director and VP of Finance from May 2008 – May 2010. He is active within SPIN and GEL.
Sean earned his CMP credential in 2008. In 2006 Sean was named “Planner of the Year” by MPI MN and has been quoted in several local and national level trade publications as an expert in the meetings industry. He is a self-published author as of March 2013 with his book The Journey to Now and maintains a blog. He graduated with a degree in technical theater and a minor in communications from Luther College in 1994.