PROJECT MANAGEMENT: CORE COMPETENCY #1

There are many components (or elements) to the meeting planning process which I discuss in detail in my book, The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings. Of these elements, there are FIVE core competencies that I believe meeting professionals must possess or strive for to be successful.

1. Project Management

2. Budget Development/Revenue Management

3. Contract Review & Negotiation

4. Site Search & Selection

5. Communication & Marketing

I addition, my +1 core competency (which is really #6 if your're counting), Life/Work Balance, is a must-have in order to maitain a healthy mind and body. Maintaining this balance will in turn help give you the strength and mobility required to operate under stressful, ever-changing conditions and situations you will undoubtedly be faced with thoughtout your career.

How do I define Core Competency?

It would probably be helpful at this point if I were to define just what I mean by "core competency." Core Competency (or skill proficiency) by my definition equals "knows" and can "apply." In other words, "competency" isn't just about the "knowing." It's also about being able to "apply" the "knowing." For instance, one can "KNOW" all there is to know about Project Management or any of the other core competencies identified above but unless you can "APPLY" the learned principles to the projects you're managing, there will be issues and unintended consequences.

Project Management: Core Competency #1

My Five (+1) Core Competencies and what they entail are detailed both in full and separately in posts on my website at https://www.maryjowiseman.net which I hope you will consider reading. For all intensive purposes in this post, I am going concentrate on my Project Management: Core Competency #1.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT in general terms is defined as” the discipline of organizing and managing resources (e.g., people) in such a way that a project is completed within a defined scope, quality, time and budget.” Or described another way: “the use of specific knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to deliver something of value (in this case a meeting or event) to people.”

In meeting planning terms we’re talking about the planning, scheduling, tracking and successful completion of a meeting or event -- my Core Competency #1: Project Management. This includes: defining program goals, objectives and key messages; defining the intended audience; researching, siting and selecting the venue that best meets the meeting’s space requirements; developing communication and marketing plans; contract review and negotiations; budget development and management; assigning team leads and key players to task lists within predetermined deadlines; FOLLOW UP and FOLLOW THROUGH.

Without good project management and good leadership skills you are setting yourself (and possibly your company) up for failure -- and this was never an option in my world, nor should it be in yours.

You'll find much more detailed information on the overall Meeting Planning Process and it's relationship to project management and the other competencies noted above in my book, The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings.

Take care. Be well. Plan well. Never stop learning

Mary Jo Wiseman, CMP | Author, The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings