Public relations is not a profession meant to operate in a silo (hence the
word “public,” right?). And when event planning comes into play, the process
requires meetings and working with others – often from other departments and
professions.
As we begin planning for the 2012
SCPRSA Professional Development Conference, our committee is quickly learning the
importance of collaboration and communication.
Here are a few thoughts:
Start
early. Whether the project is a month or a year down the road, start planning as
soon as you become involved. You don’t want to look back and feel you wasted
opportunities to get ahead in the process.
Make
connections. As soon as you start planning, open communication with other project
leaders. Has someone else worked on the same event previously? Consult them for
feedback and find out what they would do differently.
Recruit a
strong team. Once your leadership is in place, recruit a committee or group of
helpers. Keep in mind that too many people can be detrimental and muddle
communication.
Set
priorities. Chances are your event will have many moving pieces, both large and
small. It may seem daunting at first, but separate your high-level logistics
from your minute details and work from the top down (i.e. set the date and
location before choosing a caterer).
Keep an
organized timeline. Once you set your priorities, keep them
organized in a central location. Make sure each member of your team may access
and make updates to the timeline (I recommend using a program like Google
Docs). This will help streamline communication, especially if you are working
with a large team that doesn’t meet in person.
These are
high-level ideas on collaboration, so what tips would you add to the list?
Author: Caitlin Greeley is an account manager
at Greenville-based Full Circle Public Relations and co-chair
of the SCPRSA Professional Development Committee.
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